Tourism plays an important position in the economy of states due to its share in national GDP and the creation of a large number of jobs. In some underdeveloped areas, tourism is the only way to improve the living standards of the population, protect the environment and develop the local economy.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The activities of this project focus on improving transport accessibility and tourism:
- Regional study of accessibility of the region of eastern Slovakia
- Importance of the regional airport in Košice as a “gateway” to the region (accessibility study)
- Analysis of the availability of cultural routes in the Košice self-governing region
Funded by:
Project co-financed through the Territorial Cooperation Program 2007 – 2013, Central Europe
Partners:
- City of Wroclaw – leading partner
- City of Krakow
- Upper Silesian Business Restructuring Agency
- City of Gliwice
- City of Opole
- Lower Silesian Voivodeship
- Saxon Federal Ministry of the Interior
- Thuringian Ministry of Construction and Transport
- Senate for Urban Development Berlin
- City of Leipzig
- The city of Dresden
- City of Košice
- Agency for Regional Development Support Košice, n.o. (hereinafter referred to as the Agency)
- The city of Lviv
Project duration:
- 10/2008 – 12/2011
Activities:
The Agency’s activities focus on improving transport accessibility (WP 3) and tourism (WP 5). WP 3 work package:
- Regional study of the accessibility of the region of eastern Slovakia
The study maps the current state of road, railway and cycling infrastructure in the Košice and Prešov self-governing regions, including connections to neighboring regions in the Slovak Republic and neighboring countries (Poland, Hungary, Ukraine) and planned resp. proposed measures to improve the accessibility of the region of eastern Slovakia
Importance of the regional airport in Košice as a “gateway” to the region (accessibility study)The document describes Košice Airport, the current state and trend of development and its position in the context of relevant airports in Slovakia and in the surrounding countries. It also deals with the development plans not only of the airport owners but also of other key players in the region of Eastern Slovakia and the neighboring regions of Hungary and Ukraine. The study also includes proposals and recommendations in the field of marketing support, cooperation and communication at the regional and national level.Work package WP 5: - Analysis of the availability of cultural routes in the Košice self-governing region
The Košice self-governing region as a strategic partner of the city of Košice in the project Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 developed the TERRA INCOGNITA Program forming part of the main project Košice INTERFACE 2013. The TERRA INCOGNITA program is based on the concept of sustainable development of cultural tourism on three cultural and historical routes – Gothic, Wine and Iron Road. The aim of this survey was to describe in detail the current situation in selected destinations along the individual roads and thus create conditions for the effective implementation of the TERRA INCOGNITA Program.
- Motivational study of the Tokaj region
The above-mentioned analysis of accessibility showed that at present, in terms of the range of services and especially accessibility, the Wine Route is best prepared for tourists. When defining the territory for the needs of this study, we therefore decided to give priority to the wine route, specifically its part, which is known throughout the world due to its unique wines. Although the Tokaj wine-growing region is one of the smallest not only in Slovakia, but also in the world, the original and popular wines of this area can also help it to gain the attribute of a popular tourist destination.
The tourist potential that is located in this area is quite diverse, but little used. We tried to find the answer to the question why this is so in this study, the main goal of which is to motivate the main actors in viticulture and tourism, natural authorities, mayors and residents interested in the development of this area, to activate the tourist potential, revive it and sustainable transformation into the form required by domestic or foreign visitors.
- Technical construction documentation of the Tokaj Tourist Information Offices in Čerhov and Viničky
For a more effective assessment of the natural potential of the TOKAJ region and its cultural and historical potential, it is necessary first of all to improve the infrastructure in the area and then intensify marketing activities to attract tourists. In the TOKAJ region, it is necessary to offer more products, tourist packages and thus attract visitors to the TOKAJ region. The offer must be targeted so that the information to visitors can be obtained in the most accessible form. A network of tourist information offices – in Čerhov and Viničky – is to be used for this purpose. The Tokaj Tourist Information Offices in Čerhov and Viničky should provide the following services:
- providing information about the possibilities of living in Tokaj – an offer prepared for visitors to the so-called tourist packages
- presentations of the Tokaj region at tourism exhibitions at home and abroad
- booking accommodation, entry to wine cellars and other organized events
- sale of local products (including wines from small producers)
- accommodation in the accommodation part of the building
- refreshments for visitors in a wider range
- example of the use of selected renewable energy sources – reducing the energy intensity of the building
- The sixth sense – promotional material about the Košice region
Project outputs:
1. Regional study of accessibility of the region of eastern Slovakia
2. The importance of the regional airport in Košice as a “gateway” to the region (accessibility study)
3. Analysis of the availability of cultural routes in the Košice self-governing region
This project is implemented within the Central Europe Program co-financed from ERDF resources.
