PROJECT

EasyGuide:                                           an interactive mobile application for the promotion of historical
                                                            and cultural heritage in the Calarasi and Silistra regions
Acronym (short title or abbreviation):    EasyGuide
Program Priority Axis 2:                       Green Region
Specific objective 2.1.:                         Improving the sustainable use of natural heritage, resources and
cultural heritage
Project duration (number of months):     21 months
Leading Beneficiary:                             Municipality of Silistra
Project partner:                         Lower Danube Museum in Calarasi / DUNARII DE JOS
                                                            CALARASI MUSEUM
  Improving the sustainable use of natural heritage, resources and cultural heritage
Easy Guide aims to promote the cross-border region of Calarasi and Silistra as a tourist destination by developing an integrated virtual touring environment IVTGE. It addresses the challenge of insufficient knowledge of the common heritage, which hampers cross-border cooperation and social inclusion and leads to unstable tourist flow in the region. By promoting and exploiting the potential of cultural and natural heritage, "Easy Guide" aims to co-develop the area through the sustainable use of its human, natural and cultural resources. The project offers a unique opportunity to create a world class tourism service that benefits from local resources and the latest trends, thus promoting tourism and economic development in both areas.
The project will begin with a survey of the historical and cultural heritage in the region to identify sites and events of interest that will be included into the integrated environment. Based on the collected data, the content for the virtual applications will be prepared. At the same time, the technical solution for the "Easy Guide" will be developed. It will be an integrated web portal environment, mobile application, and digital information displays at selected locations.
A broad public awareness campaign will be launched to attract the attention and support of stakeholders, the younger generation and potential tourists. Based on this, a common plan will be developed to manage the use of our natural and cultural resources in a sustainable and profitable manner and will be presented by stakeholders.
Within a budget of EUR 990 320, the project will be successful if IVTGE successfully launches and attracts a large number of visitors. This will contribute to the product indicators and the results of the Program through:
- Increase number visits to supported sites
- Introduce a new high-tech integrated tourism service that will lead to the creation of other cross-border tourist services;
- Increase number of tourists’ accommodations;
- Management plan to be developed should be widely applied.
The project will directly contribute to the Program's specific outputs and indicators, ensuring sustainable use of the heritage and increasing the number of visitors to the supported sites and tourist accommodation in the region.
The project aims to inspire and create some of the necessary cultural and economic conditions for deepening the links between the citizens from the cross-border region. The benefits to the general public will be related to increased awareness and communication, extended relationships and opportunities. They will lead to increased cooperation between societies on both sides of the border. This will encourage cross-border integration and support the economic growth of the regions. This process of overcoming barriers will lead not only to economic benefits for the population, but also to the sustainable development of the cross-border region.
The involvement of NGOs and other interested institutions in the implementation of the project is crucial to achieving the expected results of the project. On the one hand, members of such an organization could provide valuable information and data about sites, objects, artefacts to be included in the digital storage project. This would provide greater coverage of the innovative product and its improved implementation. On the other hand, the objective of these organizations is supported by this project and contributes to their activities aimed at the preservation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage. It also provides open access to the valuable heritage, accompanied by proven expertise. This win-win situation is a key factor in the success of the project.
Private companies will also benefit from the successful implementation of the project, as this will lead to an increase in economic activity in the region. This will create more growth opportunities for businesses, especially for businesses in the tourism sector and related services. Moreover, the scope of newly created tourism requirements will allow companies to manage sustainable development. The latter, respectively, will contribute to the expansion and sustainability of EasyGuide.
The involvement of educational institutions in the project is mutually beneficial to the participating countries. The main purpose of this education is the development of the historical and cultural knowledge and awareness of young people. These strategic objectives are focused on the project. In addition, the use of modern and high-tech features of the new product makes it easier to attract the young generation. The latter can receive information and knowledge in the field of culture in a digitized way, which ensures faster and easier apprehension. This way engaging young people through innovative services and mobile applications provides the conditions for developing long-term cultural awareness and sustainable use of heritage not only in the cross-border region but also across Europe.