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
January 01, 2024 until June 30, 2026
- 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)
- Project duration: 01/01/2024 – 30/06/2026
- Project budget: 1.974.034,48 €
- EU co-financing: 1.579.227,58 €
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)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT:
The project „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“, acronym „Mystical Danube“ is being implemented by the consortium of 10 project partners, whereas the City Development Agency Banja Luka is the Project Partner and the Agency for Rural Development of Zadar County is the Lead Partner.
The main project objective is to develop a coordinated joint transnational approach in the valorisation of natural and intangible cultural heritage as a tourism asset in rural and less visited areas in the Danube Region Programme area.
The project’s main outputs will include 1 joint strategy for the valorisation of natural and intangible cultural heritage in rural and less visited areas of the Danube Region, 10 Pilot site Action plans for the development of sustainable community tourism services and products, cooperation of 23 partner organisations design and testing of 10 Pilot sites as a new thematic route, the Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route, with the mobile app showing the route and its features in terms of sites and available touristic services and set up contact points at Pilot sites.
This route will showcase local stories, legends, and knowledge, engaging local communities, including disadvantaged groups, in the development of community-based tourism services.
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
THE 1st MEETING OF THE CONSORTIUM FOR IMPLEMENTATIONON OF
THE “MYSTICAL DANUBE” PROJECT HELD
On 19th February 2024, the consortium for implementation of the” Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route – transnational valorization of natural intangible cultural heritage for socio-economic development of rural areas in the Danube Region” – „Mystical Danube“ project held its first online coordination meeting.
Project partners discussed and agreed on ways of mutual cooperation, design and models of internal and external communication, reporting models and deadlines, required financial steps, venue and date of the Project Kick-Off Conference and additionally went through planned project activities.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
City Development Agency Banja Luka organized an event to present the „Mystical Danube”
On 28 May 2024, the City Development Agency Banja Luka organized an event to present the „Mystical Danube – 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“, acronym „Mystical Danube“. Right after the presentation, workshops with stakeholders relevant for implementation of the Project Activity 1.1. „Mapping and collection of natural and associated intangible cultural heritage in th eproject’s rural and less visited areas“ took place.
The project „Mystical Danube“ is cofinanced by the Interreg Danube Region Programme 2021-2027, and the City Development Agency Banja Luka is one of 10 project partners located in 9 countries of the Danube Region (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgara and Romania)
The total value of the project is je 1.974.034,48 EUR, with EU co-financing in the amount of 1.579.227,58 EUR, while 150.615,00 EUR was allocated for project activities that will be implemented by the Agency.
Planned Project duration is from 01 January 2024 to 30 June 2026.
The Programme Priority Specific Objective is socio-economic development through culture, heritage and tourism, and the main Project Objective is to develop a coordinated joint transnational approach in the valorisation of natural and intangible cultural heritage as a tourism asset in rural and less visited areas in the Danube Region Programme area.
The project’s main outputs will include 1 joint strategy for the valorisation of natural and intangible cultural heritage in rural and less visited areas of the Danube Region, 10 Pilot site Action Plans for development of sustainable community tourism services and products, intensive cooperation of 23 partner organisations, design and testing 10 Pilot sites as a new thematic route, with the „Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route“mobile app showing the route and its features in terms of sites and available touristic services and set up contact points in all 9 countries that the Project has been implemented in.
The Project has been supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme and cofinanced by the EU
