Final Conference- December 8th-9th 2011, Calarasi

The final conference was conducted in greatly renovated and equipped under previously implemented cross-border project Hall of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture – Calarasi /CCIA – Calarasi/ - Calarasi with the participation of more than 100 guests and representatives of organizations from the target group.
After the official opening of the event by Marian Dragan, president of CCIA and project coordinator, congratulatory speeches were delivered by the prefect of Calarasi County - George Mushat - President  of theCounty Board George Filipescu.
 
The conference started with the presentation of Environmental expert Krassimir Kirov: "European policy for rational use of natural resources for development of tourism. Green tourism and green guest houses". After him the project manager Diana Bebenova conducted a serious analysis of the results of the project to answer the main question in her presentation: "Is there a future alternative tourism in the region of Silistra - Calarasi?" ...

Yes, available forms and existing facilities for alternative tourism can have a good future and should become a major local resources for sustainable economic development of the cross-border area. That was the conclusion of the other invited experts. Krassen Rusev, professor of alternative tourism, delivered a lecture on "How to do marketing of the destination Silistra - Calarasi" and Fodoryanu George, president of the National Association of guides in Romania, has revealed some of the most successful European and local practices to develop new tourism products and routes.

One of the main tasks of the conference was to institutionalize the cooperation network. This happened with the formal adoption of the text and the signing of the partnership, which is a request for even more targeted and stronger partnership between the stakeholders, not just the end of the CBC program Romania - Bulgaria 2007 - 2013, but the next programming period .
During the second day the conference continued with a discussion on ideas for future joint projects. After the business of the participants carried out a bus tour to some of the most attractive sites for alternative tourism in Calarasi County.

Which were the implemented main project activities ...
In connection with the overall objective of the project - Strengthening cooperation between stakeholders in the tourism sector in the region of Silistra-Calarasi - was identified most of the major "players": Romanian and Bulgarian tour-operator companies, owners of restaurants, guest houses and hotels, clubs and water, applied sports and cycling, non-governmental organizations with an affinity for tourism. As part of the activities these potential participants, and representatives of local and regional authorities, co-developed tourist product of 6 specialized and mixed route representing Silistra-Calarasi region as an attractive destination for tourism. Naturally, the most attractive, as expected, the three tourism promotional activities conducted during April-October 2011: Bicycle tour, rowing tour and promotional tour for journalists. For visualization of program and project and to support mass events were prepared, circulated and distributed numerous print and electronic materials.
In high season it offered to residents and guests of Silistra and Calarasi participation in various local and regional initiatives that strengthened cross-border cooperation between companies, administration and visitors in the field of alternative tourism: festivals, folklore, spiritual and country festivals, celebrations populated places.
 

Focus of the joint product was put on truly unique cultural, historical and natural heritage of Silistra and Calarasi Region. Historical, architectural and cultural monuments, as well as the archaeological finds, guarding traces of ancient civilizations are willing to accept thirsty for adventure tourist in The most rich are the collections of historical and archaeological museum - Silistra, the museum's "Lower Danube" - Calarasi and "Archaeological Museum of Civilization Gumelnitsa" - Oltenitsa.
Vast water territory with rich flora and fauna, rock temples and caves undoubtedly yet to be even more attractive especially for the masters of the photo safari. Connoisseurs of good food and nice drinks, traditional crafts and cozy tranquility will surely experience new pleasures in dozens of guest houses and family hotels located near natural sites in different parts of the border region.
Fishing, hunting, tours of the vast and beautiful waters with special dishes, familiarization visits to castles from different eras, and tours of many other historical and cultural monuments are excellent opportunities for unique experiences for visitors of different ages and with different preferences, decided to explore the border region of Silistra - Calarasi.
We believe that the cross-border project will help all those virtues of territory on both banks of the Danube to be appreciated by more visitors from around the world.