„EU FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM“
„EU for Cultural Heritage and Tourism“ is #EUforYouis a project aimed at developing tourism as a significant potential for economic development of Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube. It is financed by the European Union with 22 million euros and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ with 2.3 million euros and implemented by German Organisation for International Cooperation GIZ.
The project is focused on eight municipalities and cities In Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube: Smederevo, Požarevac, Kladovo, Negotin, Zaječar, Veliko Gradište, Golubac and Majdanpek.
The greatest part of the funds under this project is directed to upgrading and improvement of infrastructure of significant facilities of cultural heritage of Serbia and Europe including:
1. Felix Romuliana – Archaeological site Gamzigrad in the vicinity of Zaječar;
2. Fetislam Fortress – in Kladovo;
3. Rajačke pimnice (Rajac wine cellars) – near Negotin.
This part of the project aims to upgrade cultural heritage sites through conservation and construction works and present them as one of the sectors to promote touristic appeal of this region.
The second part aims to convey the knowledge of successful models for sustainable development of tourism through workshops, seminars, conferences, study tours, mentorship programmes and the like. Main beneficiaries and partners of the project are Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia and Tourist Organisation of Serbia (TOS), where special attention is given to working with organisations from Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube.
The project also includes representatives of local self-government, local tourist organisations, organisations managing the sites, representatives of private companies providing tourist services from the territories of the cities and municipalities under this project.
The third part of this project are grants, i.e. non-reimbursable aid awarded to local self-governments, civil associations, small and medium-size enterprises to improve their economic and tourist capacities. The primary aim to be accomplished by awarding grants is improving the quality of tourist offer of the Lower Danube.
The grant is distributed into the following four separate programs:
1. Grants intended for municipalities and public institutions – include activities of improving the quality of tourist offers and services, small-scale infrastructure works that directly affect a tourist appeal of the region, and promotion of Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube as tourist destinations. The aim is to improve cooperation among public institutions and other tourism facilities at a local level so as to make the Lower Danube a recognizable tourist destination.
2. Associations and organizations which have direct cooperation, i.e. members whose offer is a part of the tourist offer of this region and which aim to improve facilities of the entities working in tourism and therefore to improve the tourist offer of the region.
3. The third call is a tendon for creative industry and cultural institutions. The aim is to introduce new, innovative tourist initiations, increase the region visibility as a tourist destination and improve the tourist offer.
4. The last group of grants is intended for the private sector, i.e. business entities directly involved in the provision of tourist services. The aim is to improve the quality of the tourist offer and include much more entrepreneurs into the tourist offer.
The fourth part of the project aims to increase recognition and appeal of Eastern Serbia and Lower Danube as tourist destinations for potential visitors from Serbia, region and Europe through marketing campaigns in the country and abroad, participation in domestic and foreign fairs, marketing promotional contents in domestic and foreign media and the like.
Through the Project „EU for Cultural Heritage and Tourism“, the City of Smederevo has been awarded grant from pre-accession IPA funds of the European Union for projects intended to improve the tourist offer and cultural heritage.
As part of the project, the activities of removing the current facility for ticket sale were conducted, the foundation was prepared and new facility of Tourist-information centre was installed. The facility was furnished and the interactive totem and parking for bicycles were also installed next to it. Besides these activities, tourist brochures about Smederevo were prepared and printed in 6 languages, as well as bilingual tourist maps of Smederevo and Lower Danube in Serbian and English .
After successful implementation of these activities, the region of Lower Danube and Smederevo provides a new dimension to tourist experience. Visitors will find it easier to get important information about the local culture, history, landmarks, rich offer and importance of this region.
