Project Summary
Project Name: The life-giving power of Istranca Mountain
Main Beneficiary: Non-profit organization “Horizonti” / Bulgaria
Project Partner: Edirne Cross-Border Cultures Research Association
Priority Areas: Increasing the network for the development of sustainable tourism through cross-border cooperation initiatives
Specific Purpose: Development of sustainable tourism by revealing the potential of the cross-border region for health tourism development. The project provides information on natural resources – healthy climate and healing water, attracts scientists to new research, increases awareness of the region and tourist attractiveness. The aim is to create the basis for creating and developing a comprehensive and complete tourist package for health tourism in the cross-border region.
Project Objectives: Development of sustainable tourism by revealing the potential of the cross-border region for health tourism development. The project provides information on natural resources – healthy climate and healing water, attracts scientists to new research, increases awareness of the region and tourist attractiveness. The aim is to create the basis for creating and developing a comprehensive and complete tourist package for health tourism in the cross-border region.
Project Activities: 1.Exploring the popularity of the cross-border region as a place for recovery tourism through an online survey of the population in the region. The results will be analyzed, summarized and published.
- Scientific and practical forum on capacity building of Bulgarian-Turkish local and provincial governments – the forum will be held in Burgas, where scientists from Burgas universities and Edirne will explore opportunities for climate, water and tourism recovery.
- Eco-tourism – open-air seminars – 2 eco-excursions, a total of 38 tourists will visit symbolic places in the Bulgarian and Turkish parts of the cross-border region, creating an admirable network – Istranca and its fans healthy lifestyle. 4. Photo holiday for photographers – amateur and exhibition “Life-giving Water”. Photo holiday in Inadeada, where 10 Bulgarian and 10 Turkish photographers – amateurs will take part, will also exhibit their works in the exhibition. The selection of participants will be carried out through a competition. The exhibition will be shown in Edirne and Burgas.
Project Results: Increased opportunities for the development of tourism in the cross-border region. • Increased cooperation between regional participants on both sides of the border. • Increased capacity in the field of sustainable tourism development. • Creation of conditions for the development of new tourist products.
Target Groups: Local authorities • Scientific circles • Potential tourists • Travel organizations and companies • Photographers
Association Promotions
Horizonti
The association “Horizonti” was founded in Burgas in 2017. It is a civil society, non-partisan and demographic organization operating in accordance with the adopted charter and legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria. Various experts with many years of experience participate in Horizons – PR specialists, journalists, writers in various fields of art, public figures. Among the founders of the association are people with proven social activity and commitment and experience in different areas of economic and social life. The main goals of the association: to work for the integration of different peoples, to protect and promote the natural and cultural heritage, to promote healthy lifestyles, to work for the development and improvement of spiritual values and good practices. civil society, to help achieve equality of different social groups, to support their social integration, to protect human rights.
Horizonti is a young organization, but its founders have experience in the implementation of important public events. At the beginning of 2018 the association won and is currently implementing 2 projects funded by the Bulgarian Women’s Fund for work and support of refugees and migrants in Bulgaria, as well as social inclusion and acceptance by local communities in the country.
Eskad
Edirne Cross-Border Cultures Research Institution was established in 2013 and is currently operating in Edirne. The aim of our organization is to carry out cultural studies in both national and cross-border areas, to carry out bilateral studies to promote theater, music, photography, painting and folkloric structures within this scope, and to support organizations working in these fields. Our organization has included carrying out national and international projects, becoming a member of national and international organizations and participating in their projects and being a partner, carrying out joint studies and cooperating within its scope of activities in line with the same purpose. We have members who speak foreign languages and are experienced in the preparation and implementation of EU projects, and these people actively serve in the organization board. Our city, Edirne, is located on the border region of Europe, therefore our organization receives project proposals from neighboring countries (especially) and other European countries to cooperate for joint activities. In addition, our activities are carried out within this scope. The presence of the European Union Coordination Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representation in Edirne are also supporting elements of our organization.
