1.1 Tourist Attractiveness

The objectives of the project are increasing of the tourist attractiveness of the cross-border region of the municipalities Zemen and Niska Banja. The project aims at capitalisation of the natural and historical recourses in the region and improvement of touristic products. Through investments in infrastructure the project will contribute to the creation of more attractive tourist conditions and will attract further investments. The project will also popularise the region as a tourist destination.

Planned project activities include reconstruction and modernisation of the community center in Gabrov Dol and supporting construction activities. In Niska Banja infrastructure activities cover rehabilitation of health walking paths, the amphiteater and scene in the city center and the park. The project includes organisation of tours in each contry for tour-operators to popularise the project results and the tourist opportunities. Another activity envisages the digitalisation of main tourist sites in both municipalities and their integration on a common website which will further contribute to popularization of the region.

Project websites: https://bulgaria-nature.org/  www.visitniskabanja.org

The project proposal aims to invest in a multifunctional indoor sports complex in Kostinbrod and a swimming pool in the village of Dushnik of Gadzin Han, creating favorable conditions for joint sports activities and practicing sports tourism in the region. Planned activities:

1. Construction of a multifunctional indoor sports facility in Kostinbrod;
2. Reconstruction of the swimming pool in Dushnik, Gadzin Han Municipality;
3. Developing a Single Cross-Border Strategy and Joint integrated product for the Development of Sports and Adventurous Tourism in the Municipalities of Kostinbrod and Gadzin Han Activity;
4. Two-day discussion at a round table on "Cross-border identity in favor of sports tourism";
5. Specialized training seminar "Starting a business in the field of sports tourism".

Expected outputs:

1. Newly-built indoor sports facility in Kostinbrod;
2. Reconstructed swimming pool in the village of Dushnik;
3. Established conditions for the development of sport tourism in the municipalities of Kostinbrod and Gajin Han and the cross-border area;
4. Developed joint cross-border strategic document providing additional economic development and competitiveness of the municipalities of Kostinbrod and Gajin Han as sport tourism destinations and supporting the sustainable development of the tourist area in the cross-border region;
5. Developed integrated tourist product, created tourist packages, increased interest in tourist resources on the territory of the partner municipalities;
6. Created opportunities for exchange of experience and good practices, partnership, dialogue and interaction among stakeholders in the field of sports tourism;
7. Promoted sports tourism;
8. Successfully held training seminar in the municipality of Gajin han and trained 40 certified participants;
9. Increased capacity of the participants in developing and implementing approaches to starting a private business in the sphere of sports tourism.

Target groups are the following organizations from the municipalities of Kostinbrod and Gadzin Han: institutions engaged with development of sports tourism, including sports clubs, civic organizations, tourist centers, etc.; tour operators and tourist companies, guides, hoteliers (family hotels, houses and guests) and restaurant owners, owners of accommodation sites; representatives of local businesses,  related to the development of sports tourism: construction companies, retailers, transport companies; entrepreneurs, who want to start a business in the field of sports tourism.