Enhancement Extroversion on Culture, Folkloric and Gastronomic Tourism
Enhancement Extroversion on Culture, Folkloric and Gastronomic Tourism
In recent years, culture has increasingly come to be seen as not just as a legitimate focus for policy in its own right but also as providing myriad social and economic benefits. The contribution of culture to Europes economic development is of increasing interest given the recent global economic downturn. The cultural sector operates in an international and rapidly changing environment where transnational cooperation, mobility, international circulation and the capacity to work on an international level are becoming more and more important. In this context, there is recognition of the need to encourage interaction between communities with either similar or different cultures and build understanding, trust and solidarity between different people. The role of culture in encouraging cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, through improving citizens’ knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, is at the very heart of European policy. Looking ahead, we anticipate that action in the field of culture will continue to be required to stimulate cultural diversity and encourage intercultural dialogue. ExtroCults rationale rests on the benefits that linguistic and cultural cooperation and exchanges bring common cultural areas into reality in terms of integration of common cultural values, social and economic development, as well as the intrinsic value of supporting cooperative action plans. Therefore we plan to implement actions that promote cross border mobility of cultural players, encouraging the transnational circulation of cultural works, and encouraging intercultural dialogue. The partnership will work on a set of core principles and series of tactical steps defined and described as a collection of best practices. These will eventually lead to the establishment of a common action plan in order to study existing best practices to form a tailored adaptation study and devise a common communication strategy plan, raise awareness, establish local quality agreements and train stakeholders in order to capitalize to the maximum on the project’s outcomes. ExtroCult focuses on the mobility of players and the circulation integrated activities, for instance, performing arts and festivals. Moreover, mobility and circulation have been closely linked to cultural creation with exhibitions and performances, networking and clustering initiatives and network focused participation in specialized events and exhibitions. Additionally, we have incorporated support for information and sharing of knowledge and guidance for stakeholders via trans-national training modules and mobility toolkits. The project aims to endure beyond the life of the cultural activities co-financed by the programme. Long-term benefits tend, instead, to be more in terms of the experience and skills gained by individuals as well as greater openness to and capacity for mobility and circulation in future on the part of organizations.
In particular the objectives are the:
• Protection, promotion & preservation of the traditional heritage (folkloric and religious elements, traditional music, dances, etc)
• Enhancement of cross-border population’s, mainly young peoples’ access to tourism activities and resources allowing them to develop art and cultural activities, promote their cultural identity & actively participate in the social and cultural life of the CB area;
• Utilization of cultural heritage in the sense of a developmental perspective and promotion of the alternative forms of tourism with cultural interest
• Enhancement and institutionalization of cultural, tourism and art cooperation in the CB area and encouragement of mobility and cultural exchange’
• Reinforcement of CB networking with multiplier benefits at cultural level for both areas
• Operation of a permanent structure of co-operation and exchange of information and expertise between the two countries.
Expected Results (EN): The expected results assure added value for the application area of the project as they advertise the CB area as a cohesive tourist destination of cultural interest, reinforce the networking of co-operation between the two countries and contribute to the operation of a permanent structure for the advertising, promotion, protection of their cultural heritage and to its utilization also after the completion of the project. Despite the numerous and rich natural and cultural resources and the various policies, the cross border area lacks an organized management plan for the development of mild tourist products. ExtroCult aims to help managing authorities to create cultural clusters or other types of cultural networks which will collaborate to organize joint cultural events and joint actions promoting common cultural identity. The main result indicator directly linked to the project is the increase of annual visitors and the increase of the annual tourist visits. Additionally, ExtroCult will: Perform best practices and adaptation study which shall pinpoint advantages and disadvantages in their overall operational capabilities and identify future opportunities. Obtain technologically advanced equipment and complementary supplies and services to improve the partnerrs’ cultural production. Use technological innovation and knowledge accumulated in order to communicate the various advantages of cultural exchanges. Create specific training programs that will help employees and entrepreneurs improve the quality of the tourism services they provide. Increase of the cultural approximation of the population & promotion of cultural products reinforcing the tourist stream of the area & promoting cultural tourism through promotion of cultural festivals & common cultural activities.
Expected Outputs (EN): ExtroCults added value is foreseen in aspects such as initiatives leading to cross border tourism exchange, be it visitor exchange among cultural events, knowledge, human resources and good practices, joint initiatives in future projects and restoration of sites whose immediate or distant future seems nowadays, at least ambiguous. Furthermore, certain actions within the project, such as the common strategic communication plan, the cultural exchanges among events and the targeted promotional actions are expected to draw substantial attention to issues pertaining to local and regional policies. More specifically the projects outputs are: A communication strategy plan incuding MM Campaign, leaflets, web site, etc, a best practices and adaptation study Small scale open air theatre Corporate identity, website, dissemination material Theater productions Recording and presentation of cultural heritage elements and festivals Raising awareness and training actions Final Conference for the presentation of the projects results Training packages per stakeholder group, interactive training seminars and individual consultations Organization and realization of 5 cultural exchange events for awareness raising among the CB areas population and visitors. Overall, the project is expected to increase the attractiveness of the event network’s sites and the number of people visiting the cross border area. Another highly regarded outcome is pointing out the need to improve the quality and variety of the services the local enterprises currently provide. Therefore, promotion of cultural events using modern methods is practically synonymous to enhancing its touristic potential. ExtroCult is directed on using advanced practices that will help local authorities and stakeholders preserve cultural heritage events and traditions, achieve higher status as a tourist destination and ultimately help put the tourist sector on a sustainable development path.
More specifically the project’s outputs are:
• A communication strategy plan including MM Campaign, leaflets, web site, etc, a best practices and adaptation study
• Small scale open air theatre
• Corporate identity, website, dissemination material
• Theater productions
• Recording and presentation of cultural heritage elements and festivals
• Raising awareness and training actions
• Final Conference for the presentation of the project’s results
•Training packages per stakeholder group, interactive training seminars and individual consultations
•Organization and realization of 5 cultural exchange events for awareness raising, among the CB area’s population and visitors.
Lead Partners
Chamber of Kefallonia and Ithaca
Partners:
• Municipality of North Tzoumerka
• Center of Economic Development and International Relations
• Municipality of Pogradec
• Cultural Development Group of Kastoria – MYISIS
• Theatre Tsi Zakynthos EpaggelmatikiSkini
