Project ‘52 CARPATHIAN LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCES: REINVENTING TRADITIONAL WORK CULTURES’
- GENERAL INFORMATION
The Project “52 CARPATHIAN LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCES: REINVENTING TRADITIONAL WORK CULTURES” was launched on October 25, 2019 and is being implemented by the Tourist Association of Ivano-Frankivsk Region under the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENI Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 and is co-financed by the European Union. The project partners are the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Satu Mare (Romania), Košice Region Tourism (Slovakia), ABA Tourism Association (Hungary), and Department for International Cooperation, Eurointegration, Tourism and Investments of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration (Ukraine).
The overall project objective is to boost visitation and create new livelihood opportunities in cross-border communities whilst developing and promoting unique tourist experiences built around traditional work cultures and lifestyles as part of Carpathian Living Heritage Destination.
The specific objectives of the project are:
1) To create innovative visitor experiences based on Carpathian work cultures and life styles whilst recovering vanishing traditions, raising value of cultural heritage, investing in creative potential of local people;
2) To build sustainable tourism supply chains and support small-scale businesses and individuals operating in traditional agriculture, food and artisan sectors to sell local products;
3) To promote new cultural tourism opportunities under the common Carpathian Living Heritage destination brand.
- DETAILED REPORT
AG 1. REINVENT: crafting new product
A 1.1. New innovative travel packages – 52 weekend tours with Carpathian living heritage experience
Partners in their regions implemented search of the living heritage themes / people /communities engaged in traditional agriculture and indigenous economy, the so-called ‘heritage safeguards’ via several open calls announced in between January-June 2020. The focus was given to the traditional work cultures and rural lifestyles focusing on knowledge and skills of local produce, performing arts, social practices, festive events, etc. The common format (methodology) for description of model travel itineraries was developed. The format and the progress with selection of the heritage sites / safeguards were discussed by partners at the first meeting of the project work group (WG) held in Hungary on 4-6 of March 2020.
By the end of reporting period, partners managed to identify 55 potential living heritage products / sites (13 in Ukraine, 16 in Romania, 13 in Slovakia, 13 in Hungary) and prepared 55 itineraries / business plans.
The Beneficiary 4 also procured 10 informational signs (stands) to mark / interpreted the heritage sites and objects located around the heritage sites in Ukraine mentioned in the itineraries.
Project partners are in contact with the safeguards involved in the project. During the reporting period the memorandums of cooperation were signed by the safeguards identified in Slovakia.
A 1.2. E-travel vehicles – on-line Carpathian living heritage museum and mobile virtual guide
During the reporting period the partners studied the most successful mobile application for tourist destinations in their countries and worldwide available for download in IOS and Android formats in terms of their download statistics, convenience of usage and visual structure. The Beneficiary 2 and 3 also shared
their knowledge and experience in connection to their own mob apps. Additionally, partners explored various on-line sites promoting local heritage, products and work cultures. Subsequently a structure of the mobile application and on-line museum was developed and partners finished to prepare their relevant regional contents. The content of the mobile application was translated by Beneficiary 2 into English language. Photo brief was made in Hungary and the photographer’s procurement process began.
The approach and proposed structures were discussed at the first Steering Committee meeting on 28.11.2019 and at the first project work group meeting on 4-6.03.2020, and further developed in WG meeting in Ro ?
The Lead beneficiary has already finalized the mobile application and web site content for Ukrainian side. The respective ToRs for web site and mob apps were prepared and the domain name purchased (www.go52.org). Besides the services on the development of online museum were procured. The implementation of the contract continues and will be finished during the next project periods.
A 1.3. International festival of Carpathian traditional work cultures in Romania
The International festival of Carpathian traditional work cultures was organized in Romania, Negresti Oas, on AUGUST 15-16, 2021, by Beneficiary 1. The Festival aimed to promote the value of Carpathian living heritage experience and was held at the open-air museum in Negresti Oas, Satu Mare, Romania. This open air museum of traditional Romanian culture contains original samples of traditional wooden houses and households, traditional pottery, palinka production facility, traditional cereal mill and „washing machine” and is a perfect place to organize a festival related to traditional work cultures. The festival was organized as the main project multicultural event and registered over 100 participants , sut of which 14 from Slovakia, 9 from Ukraine and other 8 from Hungary, and was attended by thousands of spectators during the 3 days.
The program of the event included:
– a professional event /conference , attended by cross-border authorities, stakeholders and community organizations, traditional producers/ representatives of indigenous industries, tourism operators and other service providers. At the conference were presented ways of safeguarding the intangible heritage, European cultural routes, ways to legalize the activity of small craftsmen or households that traditionally process fruits, vegetables and other food products from their own household, and last but not least, the presentation of the project and partners who implements it was insured by all project partners.
– A Carpathian local produce FAIR with 30 stands: producers of traditional costumes and embroidery, carpets, ceramics, wood, glass, leather, dolls, folk ornaments, local food: meat, milk, cakes, honey, natural juices, jams, etc .; producers of various distilled beverages of plums and other fruits, dried fruits, craftsmen, travel agents, etc.
– a folklore show with performances of folklore singers/dances, costumes and crafts show, including performances from a famous Slovak folk dance group , and a small group from Ukraine;
– marketing and promotion activities – banners, posters, flyers, invitations;
– press conference , guaranteeing the wide coverage of the event in the local, national and international mass media that will lead to the recognition and popularization of the Carpathian LIVING HERITAGE regions and cross-border destination. More than 15 media links were spotted.
The festival emphasized the unique aspect of the Carpathian living heritage experience and promoted new cross-border products and living heritage partners. Partners presented themselves and their cultures for the wider audience, and raised the level of their heritage and products recognition. Cooperation between the local stakeholders from target regions in preparation of this event will build new partnerships and facilitate the cross-border cooperation
A 1.4. Interpretation documentary films: Carpathian traditional work cultures and lifestyle stories
During the reporting period, partners together agreed on the themes for the films. In each location the central characters were identified, narratives prepared, and scenario frames elaborated. The Beneficiary 2 from Slovakia, Beneficiary 3 from Hungary and Beneficiary 4 from Ukraine procured the respective film making companies and initiated filming.
3 films were finalised in Ukraine.
The Beneficiary 1 contracted a provider and had several meetings to establish final content of the 5 films. All films are initiated and under progress.
No finalised films were yet presented in Hungary.
5 videos were prepared and submitted by the film-maker contracted by the Beneficiary 2 in Slovakia. The topics of the films are: The Castle above the village of Vinné and Tokaj wine producers; Dance, whip and lace; Pod Ostrou skalou Ranch, Woodturning and Beekeeping in Opátka; Granarium, Association of Gemer Craftsmen and Forest bath; Košice castle, Pottery in Košice and Falconer in the Carpathian region. These documentary films are available on the GO52 Heritage Weekends YouTube channel and also on the official YouTube channel of the Košice Region Tourism: Go52 Heritage Weekends – YouTube and Go52 Víkendy plné tradícií | Go52 Heritage Weekends – YouTube.
AG 2. CONNECT: B2B capacity building
A 2.1. Tourism market study
In the reporting period, partners elaborated and agreed on a unified methodology for the market study. The proposed methodology was discussed and shaped by partners during the first Work group meeting on 4-6.03.2020 in Hungary. During the meeting, partners also developed questionnaires for various target groups. The purpose of the study was agreed as a combination of the following: ‘to raise the partners’ understanding of the current market situation including the knowledge of customers’ profile and travel decision making peculiarities in order to effectively conduct project marketing activities; to prove that the partners’ market assumptions are holding true; as well as to get enough factual information to guide various local tourism action plans and prove the partners’ organizations’ role as marketing organization or intelligence units before the local tourism providers’. Partners also decided to track pandemic effect making study relevant to current situation.
As a result, four regional level market studies were conducted for Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. The study included analyses of the current tourist offer and prevalent practices within the destinations, challenges related to heritage preservation, visitation statistics and the growth potential, distribution channels; traveller values-based segmentation; identification of potential market niches and market forecast, benchmarking etc. The partners used data and reports available, as well as on-line research tools for questionnaires and visitor surveys when relevant.
Partners coordinated study related activities in their regions and produced regional level report each. The combined summary report will be finalised in the next reporting period.
A 2.2. Cross border inbound tour operators workshop/familiarization trip
Unfortunately, due to the COVID 19 pandemic quarantine restrictions in the target countries it appeared impossible to conduct such a cross border tour as planned. Therefore, partners decided to modify this activity and split the tour into four separate tours that would coincide in the time. Eventually, in the reporting period partners managed to announce, identify participants through an open call for participation, prepare and organise 3 component tours for 30 inbound tour operators. 4 feedback sessions were organised as part of these tours involving 77 participants, including the service providers within the newly created heritage tours.
In Ukraine, the tour was organised on 09-15.10.2020 (6 days); 6 tour operators participated; 2 accompanying persons. A separate feedback session was organised on 15.10.2020 at the Heritage Centre of the Vyhoda Narrow Gauge Railway (Vyhoda village, Ivano-Frankivsk region) with 21 participants.
In Romania, the tour was organised on 14-19.10.2020 (5 days); 6 tour operators participated and 2 accompanying persons. A separate feedback session was organised on 17.10.2020 at the Open Air Museum of Oas Country- Negresti Oas, Satu Mare county with 24 participants.
In Slovakia, the tour was organised on 06-11.10.2020 (6 days); 6 tour operators participated and 2 accompanying persons. A separate feedback session was organized on the last day of the trip on 11.10.2020 at the Hotel Crystal, Košice (20 participants).
In Hungary, the tour was fully prepared and organised on 28-29.10.2020. 12 tour operators participated. A separate feedback session was organised in Abaúj Region.
The participants of all three tours visited places of living heritage in the respective regions and met various service providers and experience the products (local farming traditions, work cultures, craft industries and folk art).
The on-line cross-border meeting of the tour operators from all target countries was conducted on 14.12.2020 in order to launch cross-border linkages between them and the new heritage tours; 37 tour operators and representatives of project partners participated.
A 2.3. Training events for packaged service providers/ regional tourist officers
In the reporting period, three training sessions were organised in Ukraine, Romania and Hungary to improve technical and management capacities of 96 local stakeholders involved into cross-border packaged services supply-chains under the GO 52 Heritage Weekends.
In Ukraine, a four-day training session was organised in Yablunytsia village of Ivano-Frankivsk region on 04-7.07.2020 involving 25 participants (14F and 11M).
In Romania, there was two training sessions organised in Breb (Maramures county ) on 19-21.10.20 involving 19 participants (7 M and 12 F) and on 21-23.10.20 involving 17 participants (4 M and 13 F).
In Hungary, the training session was organised on 12-14.10.2020 in Telkibánya involving 35 participants (16M and 19F).
The participants in training sessions were the local performers/service providers within the packaged tours such as servicing entities (hotels, restaurants, farmhouses, traditional street vendors), local products producers (farmers, artisans/craftsmen), tourism organizing sector (local handling tour operators, agents, guides, tourist information officers). Professional trainers and successful businesses were invited for lecturing/presentations.
The training topics covered the topics the product design, including development of the tour itinerary and its prototype, business planning, visitor profiling and promotion, as well as interpretation, including presentation, acting and storytelling.
In all trainings partners involved professional trainers with extensive experience of working with cultural heritage and tourism. The trainers much implied the participatory learning methods and group work, such as interactive lectures, creative workshops, improvised survey of visitors, mini-productions of theatrical sketches etc
