Project code: | BGRS0200053 |
Project call: | Call under Priority 2 - Enhancing regional competitiveness, incl. in the area of tourism |
Priority axis / Specific objective: | Priority 2 - Integrated development of border region Specific objective RSO5.2 - Fostering the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security, in areas other than urban areas |
Type of project: | Investment and soft measures |
Project duration in months: | 24 months |
Project final contract amount: | 813.645,99 € |
Project EU co-financing rate: | 85% |
Project start date: | 07/11/2025 |
Project end date: | 07/10/2027 |
Partners: | Lead partner: Association Regional Partnerships for Sustainable Development - Vidin; Partner 2: Public library of Merosina; Partner 3: NGO "Inventors of Porec" Partner 4: Tourism Organisation of Municipality Merosina |
Project summary: | Project objective aims to create a new cross-border tourist product - balloon tourism in order to boost tourism development in the cross-border region of Bulgaria and Serbia. To fly with balloon is a dream for many people. So development of balloon tourism will attract people from the country and the cross-border region and abroad in our target regions and will increase overnights as balloon flights usually take place early in the morning. This is something all tourist service providers and local authrorities will benefit from on the territory of districts Bor, Nis and Vidin. We expect organising averagely 77 free flights per year in each of the 3 districts, thus increasing the number of overnights in the cbc region with 1386 annually. Additionally, the organisation of tethered flights, where the balloon is attached on ropes to the ground generates significant number of people, who travel to the area especially for this and meanwhile visit restaurants, museums, caves, etc. Balloon tourism in Serbia is still underdeveloped in relation to Bulgaria and most of the other EU countires. In Serbia there are no territorial areas with constant and reliable services for balloon flights. There are just separate tethering festivals, where balloons rise and land tight on ropes. Bulgaria on the other hand has made some progress in balloon tourism over the last years, but the potential for development is very big, especially in the area of Belogradchik, where LP RPSD-Vidin, benefiting from the sustainable results of implemented project within CBC BG-RO programme, operates a hot-air balloon since the beginning of 2021 and has achieved so far some significant results, such as: 1. provision of regular and highly appreciated service for tethered flights and free balloon flights; 2. organisation of two annual balloon festivals in Belogradchik, attracting thousands of people to fly and experience also other adventures. So, now with the implementation of this project Bor and Nis will have the chance to become the first districts in Serbia, where balloon free flights are organised and regularly work in this direction to attract tourists from whole Serbia and abroad, whereas Vidin district and more precisely Belogradchik rocks area will have the chance to increase the number of balloons flying in the area, so increasing the attractiveness of balloon flying over the rocks, getting closer to the concept of Cappadocia. At the same time all project partners will benefit from the mutual participation in joint balloon festivals, creating with own several balloons and some guests the magic of balloon festival and increasing the attractiveness of the cbc regions. Key activities to achieving these goals is the attractive promotion of the new tourist product, using most recent virtual reality promotion, organisation of balloon festivals and training of balloon pilots as well as the establishment of Tourism info point for selling tickets for hot air balloon with souvenir shop in municipality Merosina. The new tourism product will be also presented at the tourism fairs of Sofia and Belgrade with the promotional items created within the activity promotional campaign. The development and delivery of 2 Virtual Reality balloon baskets is unique approach with strong cross-border character and immense potentential for promotion of the new tourism products at various events, tourism fairs, other balloon festivals, etc. The user will have the chance to enter a real balloon basket and be the balloon pilot flying over Belogradchik rocks or Merosina area through the use of virual reality headset. The virtual flight will be displayed on monitors and everyone around will be able to see what happens. At the same time balloon flying in Serbia will be a totally new tourism product and its effects will be further increased by the organisation of balloon festivals where Bulgarian and Serbian balloons will fly together over territories in Serbia and Bulgaria. 3 such cross-border festivals are planned to increase the attractiveness of the region and generate serious interest among the population of both countries to balloon tourism. |