Round table “Factors for Sustainable Tourism in Strandja” in Kirklareli

On 22.10.2016, there was conducted a round table under the title “Factors for Sustainable Tourism in Strandja”, the final event under the project” The unique nature of Strandja – potential for sustainable tourism. The event was held in Hotel “ROYAL” (KIRKLARELİ BİLGİÇ).

After opening remarks by the Chairman of TTA – Mr. Ali Korur, several presentations linked to the future of tourism in the region were made. Key presenters were as follows:

Nazir Karacam – “From Legends to our days”. Mr. N. KARACAM is a leading local researcher and presented the potential of the region from a historical perspective (history of the area / from ancient times to the present day). Mr. M.SAYGIN presented also the great potential of the riparian (longos) forests of National Park “Igneada”. He drew attention to the risks and threats to the wealth of this part of Strandja, the main threats being the disposal of waste in the lakes, diverting of water from the local population, the yield of stone etc. and on the ideas for the development of energy sector in the area.

About the forestry resources spoke Fikri ERBAŞ, former director of the Forestry – Kırklareli. On the whole the Turkish tourist community and the local population take very seriously the environmental threats coming from various investment plans such as extraction of inert materials / thermal power plant – Ineada – there is a lawsuit in progress with the government for the development of the nuclear power plant project; Poaching remains a major threat – the population of wild pigs is greatly increased, at the expense of the endangered representatives of forest fauna – the roe and the deer.

The last presentation was made Dr. ALİ ÇAKIR from Edirne University.

 

 

Seminar “New opportunities for sustainable tourism in the
cross-border region Strandja”

On 15 and 16 October in the town of Tsarevo – at the building of the Bulgarian-German Vocational Training Centre, 2 Nestinarka Street a seminar “New opportunities for sustainable tourism in the border region Strandja” was held. The seminar is organized within the project “The unique nature of Strandja – potential for sustainable tourism.” It’s coordinator is Youth Association VERDIKO from Tsarevo with Thracian Tourist Association of the city of Kırklareli as a partner. The seminar was attended also by representatives of the Turkish partner, by the College of Tourism – Kırklareli, the Association TEMA – Istanbul, non-profit organizations in the region – the associations “Black Sea Strandja”, “Vasiliko”, “Lumen”, “For the Earth”, “Ekopan” and others. The purpose of the seminar was to present opportunities for sustainable tourism development in Strandja mountain, related with nature – wild fauna and flora, to discuss the best practices in tourism and the development of protected areas in the country and abroad, to present the Bulgarian, European and world trends in the alternative, rural and environmentally friendly tourism, some financial instruments for sustainable tourism and investment in protected areas.

During the first day of the event reports were presented by  by Ivan Kamburov (NP “Strandja”), Dr. Atanas Orachev (Strandja Black Sea), Dr. Dimitar Sabev (independent researcher in the field of ecological economics) and in the second day – V.Moskov (Burgas Association for Ecological and Rural tourism), Dr. Stefan Peykov (Ekopan) and Dr. Desislava Aleksova (International Business School). Besides sharing knowledge and experience for the development of the region also a number of innovative solutions for sustainable tourism and employment in the region were discussed. In a lively discussion raised many problems and solutions to social, demographic and economic development of the region. The participants agreed on the concept for the development of Biosphere Nature Park Park “Strandja” as an integrated approach for development not only of sustainable tourism, but for the overall economic progress of the region. With speeches and comments part took Varban Moscov and Stefan Peykov, and from the Turkish partners’s side participated Ali Korur (Thracian Tourist Association) and Munur Saygin (College of Tourism – Kırklareli).

The seminar was the second out of the project activities of the Youth Association “Verdiko”, which creates added value in “The unique nature of Strandja – potential for developing tourism in the cross-border region Strandja”. Presentations from the seminar will be posted on the project website: www.tuns.eu, and subsequently, a revised and expanded version will be issued as a separate collection of reports.

 

Seminar “The Unique Natural Heritage of Strandja” in Kirklarely

On May 14 to 15 in Kırklareli town a seminar “The Unique Natural Heritage of Strandja” took place within the project “The Unique Strandja Nature – potential for sustainable tourism.” Lead partner is the Youth Association VERDICO – Tsarevo and a partner Thracian Tourist Association (TTA) of Kırklareli town. The seminar was organized by the Turkish partner TTA. The seminar was held at the following program: Presentation on “Biodiversity in Strandja region – Turkey” from Dr. M.Saygan – Anatolian University. The lecturer presented the phenomenal nature of “Forest Reserve Ineada – Province Kırklareli” – applying for the status of a Biosphere Park under the auspices of UNESCO. Rare dense formations extends on an area of 3155 ha and 10 km long coastline – containing marshes and lakes with fresh and salt water. Here are four main sites – the lakes Erl, Mert, Saka, Koreni. Lake Mert is of a particular interest with its “outbreaks” during spring when the groundwater rises sharply. The plant world is a diverse and biotype and rich with white and black oak. The fauna is also very rich and varied with the whole range of mammals to insects. Dr. Saygan presented the opportunities that the National Park allows for the development of tourism: photographing birds from nature-lovers and environmentalists, professional photographers, ecotourism.The territory is extremely attractive for development of sustainable and sightseeing tours. The urbanization problems of the region were brought up, issues in concern with minimal damage to the environment.

The second report was a continuation of the first – “Alternative and Environment Friendly Tourism” delivered by Dr. F. Massut by the Department of Tourism of the Province Kaklareli. There were raised issues for ecotourism in Strandja and Dense Forest Reserve and as a first step the routes on Turkish territory should be determined and described.

Brief presentation “Opportunities for photo hunting” in the territory of Strandja.

With speeches and questions by representatives of partner organizations S. Angelov and Ali Korur took part. The seminar ended with wishes for hard work to protect the natural heritage and its promotion in the tourist destinations of both countries.