Project name: DiGiPARKS "Creation of an innovative integrated tourist product between the natural parks "Vrachanski Balkan" and "Iron Gate" ,
Program: European Territorial Cooperation Program INTERREG V-A "Romania - Bulgaria", Priority axis: PA2 Green region
Overall goal:
Promoting joint sustainable and balanced economic development in the two parks, by diversifying the tourist offer and development of tourism based on cultural and natural heritage, as a factor for effective use and exploitation of common advantages and potentials and overcoming imbalances in the region.
Specific objectives:
1. Creation of a joint integrated innovative tourist product - Cross-border destination for tourism based on cultural and natural heritage and promotion of the renewed common positive image of two nature parks through modern 3D technologies.
2. Established cross-border network uniting all stakeholders and developed capacity for joint strategic planning, management and sustainable development of tourism, growth of tourist visits and revenues from tourism in the two parks.
Activities:
1. Delivery of equipment for digitalization on the territories of the two natural parks and specific sites in them.
2. Identification of pilot sites of natural and cultural heritage and tourist routes for digitalization in the two nature parks.
3. Digitization of park areas and sites.
4. Creation of digitalization centers and halls in the two nature parks.
5. Development and implementation of an innovative cross-border tourism product.
6. Capacity building in the administrations of the two nature parks.
7. Communication and publicity.
Description:
Within the framework of the project, three-dimensional digital models of the nature parks will be digitized and developed with high accuracy and in appropriate scales. All significant sites of natural and cultural heritage in the two parks will be digitized - fortresses, churches, monasteries, rock phenomena, caves, interpretive routes, which will also be 3D visualized.
In the visitor centers of the two parks will be equipped and furnished modern digital demonstration halls in which the digitized objects can be exhibited. Modern technologies will allow "flight" over the parks, "exploration" of interesting landscapes, selection and "visit" of specific sites of cultural and natural heritage in virtual reality, "walk" on a particular tourist route and more.
An innovative digital web portal will be created with a virtual video tour of natural and cultural sites in both parks, a virtual exhibition of museums in the area, a database of digitized exhibits, presenting the traditions and customs of people from the cross-border region. The portal will have the ability to download a 3D shooting application for mobile devices and the ability to upload digitized 3D images.
Based on all this, a unique tourist product will be developed and implemented, competitive, contributing to increasing the economic efficiency of tourism. During the development and implementation of the tourist product, 4 cultural and tourist routes will be developed in combination with natural sites, which will also be 3D digitized and exhibited in the halls and the web portal.
Potential tourists on both sides of the border will have the unique opportunity to get a complete picture of the tourist attractions in the two parks, to assemble and combine them. The product will be integrated with other types of tourism in the wider territorial context: ecological, sports, pilgrimage, holiday, summer, event.
Partners:
Leading partner: Directorate of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park - Republic of Bulgaria
Partner: Directorate of the Iron Gate Nature Park - Republic of Romania
Start of the project: May 21, 2019,
End of the project: November 11, 2022
Value: EUR 419,379.44, of which EUR 356,472.52 co-financed by the European Territorial Cooperation Program INTERREG V-A "Romania - Bulgaria".