GREEN AND MYSTICAL DANUBE STORYTELLING ROUTE TRANSNATIONAL VALORISATION OF NATURAL AND INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN THE DANUBE REGION
MYSTICAL DANUBE
Programme: INTERREG Danube Transnational Programme
Programme Priority: A More Social Danube Region
Specific Objective: 3.3: Socio-economic Development through Heritage, Culture, and Tourism
Lead Partner: Zadar County Rural Development Agency (HR)
Total Project Budget: 1.974.034,48 €
EU Co-financing: 1.579.227,58 €
Duration of Project: 01.01.2024 - 30.06.2026
Website: Link
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The Mystical Danube Project will address several challenges in the Danube region related to the valorization of natural and intangible cultural heritage for the development of tourism, regional economic growth, and social inclusion. Rural and less visited areas of the Danube region are characterized by high unemployment and social exclusion, particularly among various vulnerable groups. Given the region's rich natural and cultural heritage, the project aims to promote community development through transnational cooperation and the creation of a thematic tourist route – the "Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route". This route will showcase local stories, legends, and knowledge, engaging local communities, including vulnerable groups, in the development of community-based tourism services.
The main objective of the project is to develop a coordinated transnational approach to valorize natural and intangible cultural heritage as a tourism resource in rural and less visited areas within the Danube river basin region. Project outcomes will include a joint strategy for valorizing natural and intangible cultural heritage in rural and less visited areas of the Danube region, 10 action plans for pilot locations to develop sustainable tourism services and products in the community, 23 partner organizations collaborating across borders, and a jointly developed solution for transnational tourism development tested as a pilot action at 10 pilot locations as a new thematic route, the "Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route", featuring a mobile application showcasing the route and its characteristics in terms of locations and available tourism services, as well as setting up contact points at pilot locations.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
- Strategy for valorisation of natural and intangible cultural heritage in rural, less visited areas
- Capacity building of local community stakeholders in the Danube region for the new thematic route
- Promotion of the Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route as a new thematic route in the Danube region
LEAD PARTNER
Zadar County Rural Development Agency (HR)
PROJECT PARTNERS
- BSC, Business Support Centre L.t.d., Kranj (SI)
- Public Institution for the Development of the Međimurje County REDEA (HR)
- Business Association for Sport, Recreation, Rehabilitation and Business Eco Zone Ada Huja (RS)
- City Development Agency Banja Luka (BA)
- BROZ – Regional Association for Nature Conservation (SK)
- Agency for Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica (ME)
- CEEweb for Biodiversity (HU)
- Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, MEAT (RO)
- Regional Development Agency with Business Support Centre for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BG)