Cross-border attractiveness - smart tourism in region Kyustendil - Kriva palanka - Nevestino

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria North Macedonia

Date of latest update: 2025-04-02

Description

Description (EN):

The implementation of the project concept "Cross-border attractiveness-intelligent tourism in the region Kyustendil-Kriva Palanka-Nevestino " will contribute to achieve sustainable economic growth by creating conditions and prerequisites of increasing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Kyustendil-Kriva Palanka-Nevestino cross-border region by diversifying tourist mobility and attractive sustainable tourist products capable of attracting a significant number of visitors.The construction of appropriate infrastructure for the needs of tourism will stimulate the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and will contribute to the transformation of the region into an attractive destination for Bulgarian, Macedonian and foreign tourists and businesses. Through measures improving the transformation of tourism into an industry with year-round employment, sustainable economic growth, opening of new jobs, increasing people's well-being, getting to know the cross-border cultural and historical heritage and maintaining warm and friendly relations between the cross-border population will be supported. The implementation of the project will contribute to the transformation of the cross-border region Kyustendil-Kriva Palanka-Nevestino into an attractive place for life, work and recreation, with a developed economy, modern and diverse forms of tourism, with environmentally friendly mobility of international importance. The newly created competitive tourist product on both sides of the border will be aimed at the Bulgarian, Macedonian and last but not least the international market with the aim of getting to know and preserving the natural and cultural-historical heritage and will be an effective springboard for entering international markets.The growth of tourism sector in the economy and of tourism business in general will be higher, the number of tourism companies will grow and the share of people employed in the tourism business will increase, the supply of tourist products within the cross-border region will increase, the share of overnight visits by Bulgarians and foreign citizens will increase, which will lead to an increase in income from the development of the tourism industry.The implementation of construction activities and the attraction of investments in the sector for the construction of new and modernization of the existing tourist infrastructure will be of crucial importance for its development in the next years. The measures will be focused on the tourist product, marketing and advertising, with a view of securing financial assistance from EU programs, as well as attracting private capital. Increasing the interest of potential tourists and increasing the tourist flow will become an engine for development of cross-border tourism business and revitalization of other branches of service and production sphere in the short and medium term. The joint integrated pilot solution will enable the project partners from both sides of the border to adopt, develop and test new approaches, products and techniques to promote tourism in the Kyustendil-Kriva Palanka-Nevestino cross-border region, taking advantage of its territorial potential. The main goal of the project and the achievement of the set indicators could not be realized through national or local and regional mrograms, because only through the development and implementation of common new competitive tourism products could the policy of cohesion, which aims to solve cross-border problems and jointly develop the potential of the different territories, be developed and multiplied. While most internal EU programs (programmes covering territories of EU Member States only) provide support for solutions to global challenges, TGS-IPA territories still face the need to catch up in their socio-economic development. Therefore, the main joint challenge of the target region of the cross-border cooperation between Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of North Macedonia is to leave the group of lagging regions and take a more advanced course of development, while at the same time it still faces persistent problems related to risk of poverty and income inequality, which is due to negative demographic changes, underdeveloped regional chains of value creation and entrepreneurship development, low technological specialization, unattractive and uncompetitive economic environment.

Expected Achievements (EN):

SO1. Enrichment of the tourism offers through intervention in the adventure tourism infrastructure SO2. Increasing of the competitiveness of the tourism through Introduction of digital tourism products, promotional marketing, all-season planning and up-scaling of specific knowledge of tourism professional SO2. Increasing of the competitiveness of the tourism through Introduction of digital tourism products, promotional marketing, all-season planning and up-scaling of specific knowledge of tourism professional One destination can have the best adventure park or have the best tourism offer, but if only a few people know about it, competitiveness of tourism business in that destination is very low. Effective marketing and promotion are critical for attracting visitors and maximizing the economic impact of tourism infrastructure investments. Leveraging digital marketing channels, and targeted campaigns can increase destination visibility, drive tourist arrivals, and boost revenue for businesses. Most significant benefit of promotional tourism marketing is that it helps attract the attention of people traveling to reach destination tourist offer. Importance of promotional marketing are raising awareness, motivating consumers, promoting image, and convincing consumers of hospitality. SO2. Increasing of the competitiveness of the tourism through Introduction of digital tourism products, all-season planning and up-scaling of specific knowledge of tourism professional Taking in consideration that tourism competitiveness is about the ability of the place to optimize its attractiveness for tourists, to deliver quality, innovative, and attractive tourism services to consumers improvement of the quality of the tourist service through up-scaling of specific knowledge of tourism professionals in the area of the digitalization of the tourism, tourist experience and inclusive tourism, directly will result with improvement of the competitiveness of tourism sector in CB region.

Project outputs: Infrastructure interventions(EN)
Population covered by the project(EN)
Digital technologies for tourist sites(EN)
Joint Strategy for tourism infrastructure(EN)

Thematic information

Tourism Social inclusion and equal opportunities SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-A_BG-NM_3) Priority 3: Integrated development of the cross-border region

Priority specific objective: RSO5.2. Fostering the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in areas other than urban areas

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO5 A Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of all types of territories and local initiatives

Type of intervention: 165 Protection, development and promotion of public tourism assets and tourism services

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Община Кюстендил

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 948978452

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BG000261517 | 000261517

Department: Planning and preparation Department

Address: Velbuzhd Sq, 2500 Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Department address: Velbuzhd Sq, 2500 Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.kustendil.bg

Total budget: EUR 510 119.90

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 433 601.91

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 76 517.99

Национална установа Музеј Куманово

Name: Национална установа Музеј Куманово

Department: Project Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 924801590

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4017964112791 | 4029321 | cultural institution (EN)

Address: Done Bozinov, 1300 Kumanovo, North Macedonia

Department address: Done Bozinov, 1300 Kumanovo, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website (not verified): http://www.kumanovomuseum.com

Total budget: EUR 31 592.14

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 26 853.31

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 4 738.83

Кюстендилска търговско-промишлена палата

Name: Кюстендилска търговско-промишлена палата

Department: Project Preparation Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 941628180

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BG109080988 | 109080988 | 109080988 (EN)

Address: Buzludzha Str, 2500 Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Department address: Tzar Osvoboditel Str, 2500 Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.cci-kn.org

Total budget: EUR 20 298.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 17 253.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 3 044.82

Центар за развој на третиот Североисточен плански регион

Name: Центар за развој на третиот Североисточен плански регион

Department: Project Unite

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 931878322

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4017008505840 | 6404200

Address: Ilindenska , 1300 Kumanovo, North Macedonia

Department address: Ilindenska, 1300 Kumanovo, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.northeastregion.gov.mk

Total budget: EUR 83 982.33

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 71 384.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 12 597.35

Община Невестино

Name: Община Невестино

Department: "Organization of the territory, administrative service and humanitarian activities" DEPARTMENT

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 948978452

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BG000261541 | 000261541 | 000261541 (EN)

Address: 17 "Vl. Poptomov" str., 2595 Nevestino, Bulgaria

Department address: 17 "Vl. Poptomov" str., 2595 Nevestino, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.nevestino.bg

Total budget: EUR 24 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 21 080.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 3 720.00

Општина Крива Паланка

Name: Општина Крива Паланка

Department: Project Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 939891783

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4015005104833 | 5992958

Address: Joakim Osogovski, 1330 Kriva palanka , North Macedonia

Department address: Joakim Osogovski, 1330 Kriva palanka, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.krivapalanka.gov.mk

Total budget: EUR 304 937.61

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 259 196.96

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 45 740.65

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cross-border attractiveness - smart tourism in region Kyustendil - Kriva palanka - Nevestino

Project acronym: CBA - STRKKPN

Project ID: BGMK0200028

Project start date: 2025-03-08

Project end date: 2027-03-07

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Light from the past - CB006.2.21.072, CBC programme (EN) |

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 975 730.78

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 829 371.14

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 829 371.14. Co-financing rate, 85.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I1.1 - Tourist infrastructure in Hisarlka area - EUR 434 605.00 - country: Bulgaria (BG), town: Kuystendil, street: Locality of Hisarlak - Kuystendil, 1, postal_code: 2500, Yugozapaden (BG41), Kyustendil (BG415)
I1.2 - Tourist infrastructure in the Kalin Kamen area - EUR 277 877.00 - country: North Macedonia, town: Kriva Palanka, street: locality of Kalin Kamen, n.n., postal_code: 1330, ,
I1.3 - Tourist infrastructure in the area of Sveta Ana - EUR 17 297.88 - country: Bulgaria (BG), town: Nevestino Municipality, street: Smolichano village, , 1, postal_code: 2595, Yugozapaden (BG41), Kyustendil (BG415)
I1.4 - Tourist infrastructure Kokino - EUR 23 951.75 - country: North Macedonia, town: Staro Nagorichane, street: Locality of Kokino, N.A., postal_code: 1303, ,

Deliverables:

Tourism infrastructure strategy
Adventure park Hisarlik
Kalin Kamen adventure park
Park - St. Anna Nevestino
Protective fence - Kokino
Two joint tourist offers
four separate virtual tour
two joint thematic virtual tours
Three virtual reality
Augment reality for Kokino
digital bike map
promotion tourism documentary movie/video
four separated promotional videos
Identified tourism market segments
Two promotional tourist events
Promotional tour
Social network and on-line promotional marketing campaign
Capacity building - trainings of professionals in tourism
Workshops

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

Other Priorities and goals of the Ministry of economy 2023 – 2025
Development of Tourism and Hospitality in the Republic of North Macedonia, and goal - Further development of active tourism as a potential for strong local economic development, Program1: Improving the business climate and increasing competitiveness, Point 3, line 16 – Development of tourism and hospitality in the Republic of North Macedonia, Sub program 3: Support and development of tourism and hospitality,
Activity 3: Support of active tourism 2023-2025
Other North-East Planning Region Development Program
Strategic objective 4 – Integration of the development of agriculture, rural development and tourism in the region/ Priority 4.2 Development of rural and alternative tourism in its measures 4.2.1 Improvement of rural and tourist infrastructure, 4.2.3 Mapping and valuation of the natural and cultural-historical heritage and his promotion, 4.2.4 Improving visibility through signaling and visualization of tourist attractive locations.
Other National strategy for sustainable tourism development of Bulgaria 2014-2030 Plan for integrated development of Kyustendil Municipality 2021-2027
Integrated territorial strategy for the development of the South-West region Specific objective 1.2
Strategic objective 4 – Balanced development of tourist regions – thematic objective 2 - Development of tourist regions, measure 4.2.7.
-Strategic objective 3: Clean nature and preserved natural and cultural heritage
-Specific objective 1.2 Support for inclusion in the growth of specific natural and cultural potentials of Southwest Region.
-Specific objective 3.4 Strengthen cross-border perspectives
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion Pillar 4 Sustainable tourism, Specific Objective: Improving the quality and innovation of tourism offer and enhancing the sustainable and responsible tourism capacities of the tourism actors across the macro-region, Topic 1 – Diversified tourism offer (products and services)
The creation of innovative digital tourist products and the creation of conditions for the development of adventure tourism, strengthening the capacities of professionals in tourism, as well as the development of a common integral all-season offer, the project will contribute to the realization of the Specific Objective of the program: Improving the quality and innovation of tourism offer and enhancing the sustainable and responsible tourism capacities of the tourism actors across the macro-region. The project activities tackled following Pillar 4 Sustainable tourism flagship of the program:
02 Training and skills in the field of the tourism ( activities in WP 5)
03 Expanding tourist season to the all year round (activities in WP 2, 3 and 4)
04 Development of sustainable and thematic cultural routes/ connecting cultural routes (activities in WP3)
EUStrategyDanubeRegion Priority Area 03 “To promote culture and tourism, people to people contacts”
PA3- EUSDR- ACTIONS:
1: Promote sustainable tourism in the Danube Region and capitalise on EUSDR projects in the areas of culture, nature and tourism
2: Support and promote cultural tourism in the Danube Region
3: Invest in sustainable quality products, services, innovative forms and infrastructure in the fields of tourism and culture, promote skills, education and creating jobs in the related areas
Strategic Priorities:
1. Protection, rehabilitation, and promotion of the Cultural heritage of the Danube Region;
2. Promote sustainable tourism in the Danube Region and capitalize on EUSDR projects in the areas of culture, nature, and tourism
The development of innovative digital tourism products will promote the cultural heritage (activities WP 3), which will directly encourage the development of cultural tourism. One of the planned thematic routes, which will be created within the framework of the project, will be in the field of cultural tourism and cultural heritage (activities in WP3) which fits into 3 activities from PA3. The created tourist products (activities WP 2 and WP 3) are in accordance with PA3 activity 3 of the Strategy

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 077 - Number of cultural and tourism sites supported, Measurement unit:
RCO 074 - Population covered by projects in the framework of strategies for integrated territorial development, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 077 - Visitors of cultural and tourism sites supported, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Bulgaria North Macedonia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-04-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

10 / 10 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

43 / 43 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Cross-border attractiveness - smart tourism in region Kyustendil - Kriva palanka - Nevestino

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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