The cross border area is rich in unique cultural resources of religious significance that may be used for the development of the tourist economic activity, which currently underperforms. At the same time, religious tourism is fast growing and considered to be a key priority in the global tourism industry.
In this context the overall objective of the project is to develop / apply an innovative tourism product referring to the development of alternative pilgrimage tourism routes, incorporating 15 selected religious monuments in the cross-border area.
The key outcomes of the project are:
Furthermore the project implementation methodology adopts innovative aspects such as inclusion in its in its context,specific activities assuring assessment, sustainability,transferability and expandability of the achieved results.
The cross border character of the project is evident,since the 15 religious monuments in reference are situated along the cross border zone and consist a coherent and integrated set of cultural resources that cannot be divided between the two countries.
The project is expected to result to the significant increase of the tourist visits and stays overnight in the cross border area, the increase of the tourism income, employment and investments in the tourism sector,as well as to contribute to the overall socioeconomic growth of the intervention area.
The importance of the project’s anticipated results, its indisputable cross border character, its innovative characteristics together with the strong and efficient partnership mobilized to implement it, make the project a flagship one, fulfilling in the best possible way Programm’s relevant selection criteria.
Kick-off meeting