Press Release: Information and presentation day of the results of the Transnational Cooperation Project "CULT IN TOUR", TAPToK-CLLD/LEADER (RDP 2014-2020)

The final Meeting – Workshop, on the topic of “Information, awareness-raising and dissemination of results for the use of tools by local actors”, of the Transnational Cooperation Project “CULT IN TOUR”, CLLD/LEADER (RDP 2014-2020), organized on September 25 at the Chamber of Chalkidiki, was successfully completed. “CULT IN TOUR” is implemented within the framework of measure 19.3 “Support for the preparation and implementation of cooperation (transnational and inter-local)” of the CLLD LEADER Local Programme (RDP 2014-2020), by the Development Association of Chalkidiki S.A. and the Polish Local Action Group “Lokalna Grupa Działania „Puszcza Białowieska” – Local Action Group “Białowieska Forest””.

It is worth noting that the object of the cooperation is to undertake actions to interconnect the rich cultural and natural resources of the two regions, with their offered tourist product. At the center of the Plan, are the less favored areas of mainland Chalkidiki.

Greetings at the final event were delivered by: the Deputy Governor of Chalkidiki Ms. Ekaterini Zografou, the President of Development Association of Chalkidiki S.A. Mr. Giorgos Pasalis and the President of the Polish LAG, Mr. Eugeniusz Kowalski. In addition, on behalf of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Special Service for the Implementation of the Rural Development Program, greetings were also delivered by Ms. Despina Rakitzi.

There followed the presentations of the invited speakers Mr. Costas Papastathis, Archaeologist of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Chalkidiki and Mount Athos, on the topic “Stageira before and after Aristotle” and Mr. Giorgos Karagiannis, Scientific Director of the Ormylia Art Diagnosis Centre, on the topic “Technology and culture, a two-way feeding dipole of multidimensional, optimal development”. The session was concluded with the presentation of Ms. Despina Rakitzi on the topic “Interlocal and Transnational Cooperation”.

In addition, the Coordinator of the Local Program Ms. Georgia Karagianni, the executive of the Development Association of Chalkidiki S.A. Ms. Pavlina-Despina Tsifi, as well as the President of the Polish LAG, Mr. Kowalski Eugeniusz, presented all the actions and results of the “CULT IN TOUR” project and in particular the useful Pocket Guide and the Tourist Guide for the promotion of Mainland Chalkidiki (tourist packages). The Guide was distributed to the attendees and will be available to the public free of charge.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of opinions and experiences from the actions and activities of “CULT IN TOUR” in Chalkidiki and the Bialowieza Forest to date, regarding the way to strengthen and expand the cooperation of the partners in the next programming period.

An important moment of the event was the Award Ceremony of the “CULT IN TOUR” School Competition, following a relevant invitation for the submission of ideas and proposals with the aim of highlighting the cultural resources of the region by students. The ceremony was attended and received the awards and commendations for their participation by the students, their parents and the Principals of the Paleochori, Arnea and Megali Panagia High Schools.

Specifically, the 1st Prize went to the Paleochori High School for the Promotional Video “Aristotle’s Grove”, the 2nd Prize went to the Arnea High School both for the Local Custom Promotional Poster and the Promotional Poster with a description of attractions in Greek and English, accompanied by a relevant map, while the 3rd Prize went to the Megali Panagia High School for a Painting created by the students.

The conference was attended by the executives of the two Local Action Groups of Greece and Poland as well as representatives of the Local Government and the Tourism sector of both countries - areas of action.

For more information, click here: https://cultintour.eu/