Inter regional cooperation in the field of the cultural and alternative forms of tourism

On the 30th of September, 2010 the Press club at BTA in Haskovo held a press conference to present the results of the successful accomplishment of the project „Inter regional cooperation in the field of the cultural and alternative forms of tourism. Best practices exchange and creating of know-how”, by contract No BG161PO001/4.2-01/2008/025 of the Operative program Regional development (2007 – 2013). The conference was attended by Mr. Yancho Yanev, president of HCCI and Mr. Ivan Raykov, expert at the municipality of Mineralni Bani – project partner. The Project manager Ms. Katya Atanasova presented the accomplishment of the project activities and the achieved results to representatives of the media.
In the period 8th-9th of July 2010 the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry carried out an international conference on the issue: Tourism development – basic factor in the process of sustainable development of the Republic of Bulgaria and the EU” in the reception hall of the District administration in Haskovo.
Lecturers of the conference were:
- Mr. Roberto Guiggiani – Director of the Tourism Agency in Pisa, Italy;
- Prof. Federico Tognoni – Manager in the Campus Foundation, Lucca, Italy;
- Mr. Irko Petrov – Head of the Regional History Museum in Haskovo, Archeology department and
- Mrs.Stela Andreeva – Expert.
The conference has been organized regarding the implementation of one of the main activities under the project named:” Inter regional cooperation in the field of the cultural and alternative forms of tourism. Best practices exchange and creating of know-how”. The project is implemented with the financial support of the Operational Program “Regional Development” 2007-2013 co-financed from the EU trough the European Fund for Regional development.
In the conference took part 50 participants of the target group: local authorities, NGO-sector and tourist sector in the region and the region, which enriched their knowledge’s regarding the new forms of tourism, the new tendencies in the tourism marketing and the place of Bulgaria and Italy on the tourist map of the EU.
In the period from 22-th of June – 2-th of July 2010 the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry implemented 6 (six) Info days for promoting the possibility of a rural, cultural and other forms of tourism in the region. The Info days were organized under the project “Inter regional cooperation in the field of the cultural and alternative forms of tourism. Best practices exchange and creating of know-how”, with Contract Reg. № BG161РО001/4.2-01/2008/025, implemented with the financial support of the Operational Program “Regional Development” 2007-2013 co-financed from the EU trough the European Fund for Regional development.
The Info days have been organized in the town of Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Harmanli, Lyubimets and the village of Mineralni bani, district Haskovo in cooperation with the Municipality authorities in the relevant towns.
During the Info days Ms. Teodora Georgieva, Coordinator on the project and Ms. Margarita Atanasova, Executive Director of Regional Municipalities Association “Maritza” (www.maritza.info) provided advice to the people wanting to start or develop their small (family) business in tourism. They gave instructions in respect of available banking products and open programs that provide actually funding for businesses.
The info days attended by more than 60 participants - mayors, representatives of the local administration, of the business, representatives of the potential small family businesses and representatives of NGO’s.
In the period from 27-28.05.2010 from the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry a seminar was held on the theme: “Public-private partnership – a precondition for the development of the tourist objects and popularizing of the cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria”. The event has been organized on the project “Inter-regional cooperation in the field of the cultural and alternative forms of tourism. Best practices exchange and creating of know-how”, number of the contract: BG161PO001/4.2-01/2008/025, which is implemented with the financial support of the Operational Program “Regional Development” 2007-2013, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional development Fund.
The seminar was held in the conference hall of RODOPI HOTEL in the town of Haskovo. The participants in the event were 30 representative of the target group – local authorities, NGO sector and the tourism branch in the region. The role of each side in the process of popularizing of the region as a tourist destination has been discussed on the seminar as well the partnership opportunities. Interesting discussion was held among the participants in the seminar, on which the development of the tourism in the separate municipalities was presented as well what the present efforts for attracting of tourists are.
In the period from 15th of April till 18th of April the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry /HCCI/ organized training on the theme "Marketing of the tourist products". The event was held in the conference hall of the SPA hotel Bulgaria, in Mineralni bani village, Haskovo region.
20 representatives of the target group took a part in the training: Local Authorities, NGO’s and representatives of the tourist branch in the region. They enriched their knowledge’s regarding the implementation of marketing of the tourist product. For lecturers were invited 4 of our leading tourist experts in the filed of the tourism. From the Italian partners’ side the lector was Mr. Roberto Guiggiani – International Expert and Tourism Board Director, APT Pisa, Italy. After the closing of the training a certificate was served to every participant from the President of HCCI – Mr.Yancho Yanev.
In the period from the 8th till the11th of October 2009 a delegation from the Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited the Province of Pisa, Italy, under the project for Interregional cooperation on the cultural and alternative forms of tourism trough transfer and information, knowledge, know-how and best practice exchange. The delegation consisted of project team members, representatives of the Municipality of Mineralni bani – partner on the project, representatives of the Haskovo Regional Administration, of Non-Governmental Organizations and of the tourism branch in the Haskovo region.
During the visit a working meeting was held in the Tourism Agency of Pisa, on which attended also a representative of the Regional Administration in Pisa. Conversations were held between the three partner’s organizations regarding the project implementation and the Partnership Agreement signing. Experience exchange and exchange of good practices were implemented regarding the tourism development and the marketing of the tourism destinations with an accent on the cultural and natural objective points.
Presentations of the Haskovo District and the Pisa Province were presented. More activities in Bulgaria are forthcoming on the project, on which the Italian partner will also take a part.

On the 23th of June 2009 the HCCI presented on a Press conference the plan for the implementation of the project for Interregional cooperation on the cultural and alternative forms of tourism trough transfer and information, knowledge, know-how and best practice exchange. The registration number of the project is BG161PO001/4.2-01/2008/025 and it is under the schema for “Support for the interregional cooperation and best practise exchange”. The project is carried out from the HCCI in partnership with the Municipality of Mineralni Bani, Haskovo region and the Tourism Agency in Pisa Province, Italy. It started on the 10th of April, 2009. The main goal of the project is to establish preconditions for the implementing of an effective dialogue and best practise exchange regarding the development of the alternative forms of tourism and implementing of an effective marketing for the objects of the cultural tourism in the Municipality of Mineralni bani, Haskovo.
On the Press conference took part representatives of the HCCI, the regional and national Medias, representatives of the Municipality of Mineralni bani and Non-Governmental Organizations.