Slovak - Hungarian GeoTouristic Partnership

The aim of the GEOTOP project is to develop and implement new services in the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark and the Bükk Region Geopark. We consider it important to expand the geotourism network and to train professionally educated tour guides and geotourism specialists, therefore the partners provide a training package for tourism service providers and professionals interested in guided tours in order to expand their services. The training package includes general knowledge (on geology, accident prevention, cultural history, biology) and area-specific modules. The two geotourism networks operating in the Geopark area will be connected by a newly created cross-border study trail, approx. 7 km of hiking trails will be marked and painted, information boards and a rest area will be set up, which in overall will increase the number of visitors to the geoparks in the new location. A total of 70 geotopes, geologically interesting points, will be prepared, which are located in the two Geoparks and on the newly established cross-border hiking trail. The points will be recorded and searchable through a mobile application. We will assess the condition of the study trails on the Slovak side of the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark and the study trails in the 4 priority areas of the Geopark in the Bükk region. A summary report with photos and maps will be prepared, in order to present the condition of surveyed trails. We will renovate the study trails in 4 areas of the Bükk Region Geopark (cleaning the trail, painting, renovating the boards) and will create an interactive study trail on one of these. We will exchange experiences through study tours for teachers and professionals, as well as business and professional forums in both countries. On top of that, through a joint promotional activity, we would like to present both geoparks by producing publications and maps.

The project contributes to the level of cross border cooperation by joint actions e.g. joint development of methodology guide for teachers, joint workshops and forums, common project events - publications that will be printed in both languages and will be available for professionals in the cross-border area. The project develops services that will be available at both sides of the border.

3, Outputs: - 1 general training by external provider, - 2 area-specific trainings by LB and B1, - 1 methodological guide and educational book (by LB), Participants to the trainings will be selected by open calls, as well as selected from amongst the internal experts of the partners. 4, Outputs: - 1 cross border study trail of 7.1 km between Petrovce and Domaháza (LB and B1), - 5 information boards on new study trail (B1), - 2 information boards and 1 resting place at the new trail (LB), - 2 renovated study trails of 13.5km in Bukk plateau (LB), - 15 information boards renovated in Bukk Plateau (LB), - 6 interactive boards and games in educational trail of Rejtek (LB). 5, Outputs: - renovated blueprints, cadastral surveying, summary of the survey with photos (includes translation cost of the results of the status inspection) - B1, - brochure on hiking routes (300 pieces, printing and editing costs) - B1, - new content for the NNG website (includes translation costs) - B1, - a written summary of the survey with photo documentation (map, description of hiking routes, their condition, evaluation) - LB. External experts will physically verify the situation on above mentioned selected hiking trails. 6, Outputs: 1. LB - Study tour in Répashuta and Rejtek for experts (Bukk park, Nograd geopark), students and lecturers (Kassa University course participants) – Bükk Region Geopark- 3rd period (09/2021); 2. LB - Study tour in Répashuta and Rejtek for primary school teachers from Bükk Region Geopark – 3rd period (08/2021); 3. B1 - Study tour for primary school teachers on the Slovak side of the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark – Petrovce, Gemerský Jablonec, Dubno – 3rd period (9/2021); 4. B1 - 1 Forum for entrepreneurs (tourist service providers), 1 for municipal leaders (mayors and representatives of the affected region) – Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark (Fiľakovo) – 3rd period (10/2021); 5. LB - 2 Forums for entrepreneurs (tourist service providers) at Bükk Region Geopark premises to promote new hiking trails 3rd period (10/2021); 6. LB - 1 closing event for stakeholders, project partners, entrepreneurs, local and regional authorities – Ipolytarnoc – 4th period (03/2022); 7. LB - 1 capacity building worskhop (in HU) for experts of Bukk and Nograd Geoparks to present results of the project – Bükk Region Geopark (Eger) – 4th period (01/2022); 8. B1 - 1 capacity building workshop for experts of Bukk and Nograd Geoparks to present results of the project (in SK) – Fiľakovo – 3rd period (11/2021) 7, Outputs: - brochures (2000 pieces altogether for LB and B1) - available in tourist information offices of Eger and Filakovo, visitors centers of Bukk park and Nograd geopark; - tear-off maps (12000 pieces altogether for LB and B1) - available in tourist information offices of Eger and Filakovo, visitors centers of Bukk park and Nograd geopark; - leaf-through map (1500 pieces altogether for LB and B1) - available in tourist information offices of Eger and Filakovo, visitors centers of Bukk park and Nograd geopark; - online campaign (posts at partners´ Facebook and Instagram, websites, google ads) The newly developed services will be promoted through the websites of the partners and the two geoparks and other social media platforms: on the geopark's social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Insta), on the geopark's website, locally using QR codes, in posters at visitor centers, in tourist publications 8, Outputs: - 1 improved mobile application (by LB), - Recorded data about 70 POI points (by LB)