Goodpractice: MURA-DRAVA.BIKE www.mura-drava.eu Pomurje region Slovenia
Sinergija Development Agency Razvojna Agencija Sinergija Stanislav Sraka, Director sinergija@ra-sinergija.si www.ra-sinergija.si
THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA The Republic of Slovenia is acountry in Central Europewith a territory about 20.300 km2and population over 2.000.000people. Slovenia is bordering on Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia. Slovenia is a member of the European Union since 2004.
POMURJE REGION Pomurje is covering 6,6%of the total Slovenian territory, and has about 124.000 inhabitants. Sinergija DevelopmentAgency wasestablishedon February1998. DA Sinergija isnon-profit and non-government organization; body governed by public law with legal status of non-profit Ltd owned by foundersmunicipalities & chambers. The Sinergija Development coalition/ partnership consist of: - 11 Municipalities -SPIRIT, Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments - Employment office - Regional Development Agency Mura (RDA Mura) - Chambers (commerce, crafts, agriculture) - Clusters (Energy cluster, ENIDO group) 4
Pomurje Region, Slovenia The most important issues in the region/ country regarding rural area development Weaknesses: Highunemploymentin ruralareas Theemigrationofyoungpeople No incentivesforself-employment Lackofdevelopment-orientedfinancialresources Overgrowingofcultivatedland Opportunities: Educationoftheruralpopulation Preservationoftheruralpopulation Promotionoflocalself-sufficiency New touristic offer based on local potentials = natural & cultural heritage 5
More on www.slovenia.info/ THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA
THE POMURJE REGION
Mura-Drava.bike ID card The MURA-DRAVA.BIKE project incorporates Slovenia (Pomurje and Podravje regions) and Croatia (Međimurska and Varaždinska counties), developed a common touristic product in this border regions. Cycling tourism is a sustainable and perspective form of tourism, which has also remarkable positive effects on the development of rural areas of Pomurje. Total cost 1.799.066,90 (excluding VAT) EU contribution 1.494.503,48 National public financing 263.735,92 Private financing 40.827,50 Co-financed through IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme: Slovenia-Croatia 2017-2013 8
Project partners o Mura Regional Development Agency, d.o.o. o Murska Sobota Centre for Health and Development o Prleška Development Agency, Giz o Bistra Scientific Research Centre in Ptuj o Međimurje County Tourist Board o Međimurje Regional Development Agency, d.o.o. o Čakovec City Development Agency - Čakra d.o.o. o Varaždin County Tourist Board o Varaždin County o Maribor Development Agency Ireland, March 2014 9
Description of the GP Mura-Drava.bike Establishment of bicycle paths along the river Drava and river Mura named Mura-DRAVA.BIKE and comprehensive GPS navigation system for bikers. www.mura-drava.eu 10
Description of the GP Mura-Drava.bike Also the off-road GPS probing and relevant map was carried out that users can transfer from the web to self mobile devices, totakewith ortoprintonpaper. 11
Description of the GP Mura-Drava.bike There are a variety of useful information -from basic cycling tours to their versions, impressions of providers of local gastronomy, cultural and natural attractions, with contactsand some additional information. 12
Description of the GP Mura-Drava.bike Users can choose between different views (or just inspect the cultural sightseeing, or choose another view) according to their needs and interests. In addition to the maps the portal offers also video clips of the main trails and other important travel information. 13
Up to 3 goals and objectives: Project goals Goal 1: to establish an attractive cross-border tourism cycling destinations along the Mura and Drava Goal 2: toencourage the development of enterprise (tourism) activities at the bike path and thus will contribute to rural development Goal 3: summarized,the overall objective of the project is the ensuring of sustainable economic and social development in the border area of Slovenia and Croatia Short overview of addressed target groups: tourism workers tourism providers in the area (existing and potential) tourists, particularly bikers development planners, representatives of local communities. Ireland, March 2014 14
Project objectives The specific objective was to establish an attractive cross-border tourism cycling destinations along the Mura and Drava. It will allow the continuation of a very successful cycle paths in Austria("Murradweg" and "Drauradweg") in Slovenia andcroatia,allthewayto themouthof theriverdravaandriver Mura.This will also exploit(marketing) potentials of the existing channels, as they will also beenrichedanditcloses agap,whichconnectsthesetworivercyclepaths to the Danube River cycle path. Tourist products, which are primarily related to cycling, but can also be used independently, were also developed In the frame of the project. Project implementation has produced a large, documented base of natural and cultural attractions in the project area. There was also an education and training of providers for tourist cycling routes (including a study tour for the quality cycle track in the foreign country) and hiking guides carried out. Summarized; the overall objective of the project is the ensuring of sustainable economic and social development in the border area of Slovenia and Croatia. Project Mura-Drava.bike will have positive effects on economic growth, on reducing emigration and the creation of a pleasant and stimulating environment. Experience and knowledge that we gained in the project in general and particularly in this action may help similar projects in the border regions. 15
Implementation process The project implementation is associated with the interaction of ten project partners, with a precise and comprehensive definition of development potential, the motivation of key stakeholders, relevant professional education and target marketing activities. The project is implemented in the period between 2009 and 2012. Main phases of execution: a) determination of the place of bike paths and preparation of GPS navigation (2009-2011) b) provision of road and creation of tourist facilities (2011) c) dissemination of project activities (2011-2012) Key project activities: management and coordination, identification of bike routes, provision of cycle paths, establishment of tourist products, education and training of target groups, marketing and PR activities. 16
Project implementation The project implementation is associated with the interaction of 10 project partners, with a precise and comprehensive definition of development potential, the motivation of key stakeholders, relevant professional education and target marketing activities. Theprojectwasimplementedduringaperiodof36monthswithatotal cost of 1.799.816,90. The implementation required the involvement of key stakeholders, organizations, relevant professional education bodies and target marketing activities for the achievement of project results. 17
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Project results Themainresultoftheprojectisatransversalcyclepath,whichisoneofthe mostinteresting ineurope, andranks inthe listof bike paths of Europe that can offer multi-day exciting, interesting marketing and tourism products. This cycle path is becoming a brand, which attracts cyclists whopreferlongtours.atthesametime,thecyclepathhasbecome"the spine", which is interesting for the teams."hub" cyclists, localized in one place use daily and circular tours for local residents. The cycling route was promoted in three trade fairs abroad, promotional material, photos and short film presentation were also designed and the path was also presented in the specialized press. There is also a website (www.muradrava.eu) created together with a GPS navigation system for autonomous guidance along the way. 30
Dissemination and Exploitation 1) Mainbenefitsofthis GP: developed(new) touristproducts, whichare primarilyrelatedto cycling, but they can also be used independently carriedoutwasaneducationandtrainingofprovidersforcycling routes and hiking guides designedattractivepromotionalmaterial (shortfilm presentation, web site, GPS navigation system for autonomous guidance along the way) contributionto ruraldevelopment 2) knowledge will help residents of rural areas in a more effective marketing of tourism products and potential 3) exploitation levels: local + regional + national + cross-border level Ireland, March 2014 31
Transferability The Pomurje region is characterized by agriculture, fertile soil, thermal spas, rich culinary and cultural tradition, friendly people, etc. the combination of all these provided good conditions for development of traditional and news service activities in tourism, agriculture and other appropriate sectors. Natural features for health tourism, hunting and rural tourism at the wine trails, accompanied by the Mura River, contribute to the tourist recognition of the region that creates almost a tenth of total overnight stays in Slovenia. A comprehensive approach to service integration and Points of Interest can be transferred in the navigation system also in other border regions. For the establishment of GPS navigation in two countries with different legal bases and a variety of input data, it was necessary to include the various actors and levels. Experience and knowledge that we gained in the project in general and particularly in this action may help similar projects in the border regions. Experience and knowledge that we gained in the project in general and particularly in this action may help similar projects in the border regions. Ireland, March 2014 32
Thankyouverymuch foryourattention! Contact information: Development Agency Sinergija www.ra-sinergija.si stanislav@ra-sinergija.si jozica@ra-sinergija.si 33