The Magic of Synergies

Project objectives are:
- To create a synergetic effect of the joint affecting of tourism actors in the field of connecting the festivals, developing common tourism development policies and new touristic products in the cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac;
- To conduct marketing activities directed at tourist operators and tourism service providers to promote of the new joint tourism products (new festivals);
- To increase the capacities of tourism actors in cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac for implementing a sustainable tourism development model through share best practices, experience and know-how.

Planned activities:
1. Tourism Value Chain Diagnosis - desk and field research of the CBC region and 60 tourism actors;
2. Elaboration of common Strategy for Sustainable Tourism in the cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac;
3. Elaboration of Joint Sustainable Tourism Programme in the cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac;
4. Elaboration of 2 new cross-border touristic products and their promotion with joint match-making events;
5. Organisation of gastronomic festivals: Leskovac Barbecue Day in Elin Pelin and Day of Shoppe Folklore in Leskovac;
6. Elaboration of e-marketing promotional tool - Joint Smart Tourism Platform;
7. Organisation of joint roundtable for exchange of good practices in the tourism development.

Expected results:
1.Tourism Value Chain Diagnosis Study, including identification and assessment of resources and business environment factors for develop festivals and other specific tourism products in Elin Pelin and Leskovac here;
2. Common Strategy for Sustainable Tourism in the cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac here;
3. Joint Sustainable Tourism Programme in the cross-border area Elin Pelin and Leskovac here, including Operational Programme, 10 project concepts, Joint monitoring programme, Sustainable Tourism Toolkit and the e-guide on EU funding for the tourism sector;
4. Developed 2 new cross-border touristic products - Leskovac Barbecue Day in Elin Pelin and Day of "Shoppe" Folklore in Leskovac. Organized 2 joint match-making events for their promotion among tour operators and tourist service providers;
5. Conducted gastronomic festivals: Leskovac Barbecue Day in Elin Pelin and Day of "Shoppe" Folklore in Leskovac with participation of over 1000 visitors;
6. Developed Joint Smart Tourism platform, as a marketing promotional tool for tourist products here;
7. Organized Joint roundtable for exchange of good practices in the tourism development with 40 participants.

Target groups:
- Local authorities and festival organizers- decision-makers;
- Tourist actors: representatives of local cultural, educational institutions, tourist organizations, municipal administrations, festival organizers, tourist agencies, hotels, restaurants, SMEs, business support organizations and NGOs;
- Tourist operators and tourist service providers;
- Young people (volunteers interviewers/researchers at festivals);
- General public - local population and tourists.

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