CB007.2.12.121 THE CARPET TALE: Establishment and initial marketing of a new cross-border tourist product connecting the regions of Pirot and Chiprovtsi through their shared carpet-making traditions

Project title: THE CARPET TALE: Establishment and initial marketing of a new cross-border tourist product connecting the regions of Pirot and Chiprovtsi through their shared carpet-making traditions

Lead Partner: International Business School

Other partners: Historical Museum – Chiprovtsi, Museum of Ponishavie, Serbia

Priority Axis: Priority Axis 1: Sustainable Tourism

Specific objective: Cross-Border Touristic Product: Capturing economic benefits from development of natural and cultural heritage in the border area through creating common cross-border touristic destination

Project objectives: The creation and initial development of a brand new tourist product entitled ‘The Carpet Tale’

Project activities: The envisaged set of activities is organized in such a way that their parallel implementation will trigger the launch of the new cross-border tourist product during this Project’s time-span. The theoretical side of the concept implies the drafting of a detailed programme for the development of ‘The Carpet Tale’ alternative tourist product, including a marketing plan (Activity 1), and the formation of a core team of trained professionals at the two partnering Museums, ready to put this programme in practice (Activity 2). The practical component shall start with the establishment at the partnering Museums of two traditional Workshops featuring real local craftsmen showcasing the art of carpet-making (Activity 3); it will be followed by exchange of visits of such artisans between the Serbian and Bulgarian partners (Activity 4). Meanwhile, a set of promotional tools, both printed and digital, shall be developed (Activity 5), and at the end of the Project, a campaign targeting tourism stakeholders will be carried out (Activity 6).

Project results and outputs: The Project deliverable will be a viable touristic product able to fit into the already existing tourist market in the target regions. Achieving this result will contribute to the promotion of the unique ethno-cultural heritage kept in the cross-border areas, on the one hand, and for the improvement of the social-economic climate in the regions of intervention, on the other.

Target Groups: Target groups include the touristic and services businesses operating in the target regions: mainly SMEs, in particular microenterprises (family hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, craft workshops, local souvenir sellers). Also travel agencies, Bulgarian and Serbian alike, which will get the opportunity to market the new cross-border tourist product as a part of their existing portfolios.

The direct beneficiaries are first of all the two partnering Museums which shall benefit from the raising number of visitors thanks to the joint marketing of carpet-making traditions, the craftsmen exchange, and the modern approach to visitor education based on the creative tourism concept. IBS as the leading partner shall benefit from raising the awareness on the School itself and the higher education in Tourism it offers, among the target regions’ inhabitants and visitors.

Regarded as final beneficiaries are the proactive and forward-thinking Museum visitors, both locals and tourists, tempted by the creative touristic alternative and keen to deepen into history and traditional art. Particular attention shall be paid to the opportunity to attract families with children from Bulgaria and Serbia as well as other EU member States.

Duration: 15 months

Total budget: 128 224.80 €