TOURage Good Practice for Senior tourism
ACTIVE AND NATURE
Good Practice
1. Title of the practice
Multi-cultural route of Komotini – Maronia
2. Location (country, region/municipality)
Greece, Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace, Regional Unit of Rhodope, Municipality of
Komotini and municipality of Maroneia-Sappes
3. Contact information
Municipality of Komotini
Municipal Social Benefit Enterprise of Culture – Education - Sports
69100 Komotini, Greece
Tel: +30 2531022411
Fax: +30 2531021517
E-mail: ithepka@culture.gr
Contact Person: Mr Dimitrios MATSAS, Head
4. Other interesting information (website, documents with www link: reports, presentations, events etc.) http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh352.jsp?obj_id=2557
5. Details of the practice
5.1 Origin (organization etc.)
The multicultural image of Komotini, the harmonic cohabitation of population groups with different religious and cultural traditions and their daily function and expression, is in every respect a good practice that favors and attracts the interest from visitors mainly senior ones in the county of Rodopi.
To facilitate the access and acquaintance with both the city itself, as well as samples of this multicultural environment, the Municipality of Komotini planned and organized a route which passes by all the attractions (spots and areas), museums, churches , mosques, foundations etc.
The visitor can navigate to all the interesting places, to stop and visit the exhibitions of museums and institutions along the route and continue to tour outside the city to other points of interest of the county as the site of Maroneia point of contact for residents of Komotini with the sea, where there are concentrated outstanding examples of Ancient Greek Civilization.
Maroneia was founded by Chian colonists on the SW slopes of Ismaros, in the mid-7th century
B.C. and soon developed into a prosperous and densely inhabited city-state. According to tradition, the mythical founder (oikistes) of the city was Maron, a priest of Apollo. Homer describes Maron's hospitality and the gifts that he offered to Ulysses when he visited the land of the Kikones. During the Classical period the city had a strong fortification wall, 10 km. long, enclosing an area of 4 sq. km, which extended from the coast up to the top of Ismaros.
5.2 Timescale (implementation period, continuous + starting time)
Continuous
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TOURage Good Practice for Senior tourism
ACTIVE AND NATURE
5.3 Financing (budget, sources)
Municipalities
5.4 Legal Framework (if applicable)
-
5.5 Bodies involved in implementation, partners
Ministry of Culture
Region of East Macedonia & Thrace
Municipality of Maroneia-Sappes
Municipality of Komotini
5.6. Target groups, beneficiaries
Tourists, Students, Academics etc
6. Precise theme/issues tackled by the practice (problems/challenges/why this project?)
On county level there must be a renewed and readjusted management plan of the tourism product.
Things also required:
 integration of the two practices: the cultural route of Komotini with the practice of visiting the archaeological sites and attractions of Maroneia
 broadening the management body
 ensure the economic viability of the body
 communication – publicity plan, as the good practice today is little known
7. Objectives of the practice
Promotion of monuments and culture
Promotion of the multicultural everyday life
8. Connection to developing senior tourism
Cultural tourism is an important part of senior tourism. Particularly the element of coexistence of cultures is of particular interest and attractiveness.
9. Evaluation (demonstrated results: indicators, success factors, difficulties, lessons learned)
Originality-Innovation
In methodology
In procedures
In techniques
In the project itself
Excellent inspiration and planning with varied and multileveled interests
ΧΧ
One body organizes the route to all spots with cultural interest.
Joint ticket to all cultural sites of the route.
ΧΧ
Small train connects consistently the route points
¨Emphasis on the multi-cultural character of the area.
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TOURage Good Practice for Senior tourism
ACTIVE AND NATURE
Existence of measurable quantitative results
Total visits
Visits by senior people
Duration of the initiative
Continuous or intermittent operation
Financial results
Existence of quality results
Reputation and image of the practice
Upgrade of the area
Dissemination of knowledge
Other qualitative results
Satisfactory
The majority of the visitors are senior visitors. Possibility to increase the number of senior visitors.
Level 2
Relatively short duration. The part of
Maronia is not yet organized. Level 3
Continuous connection with vehicle of the points of the cultural route is interrupted during the winter months.
The problem can be solved in conjunction with the connection with Maroneia (eg closed, versatile vehicle)
Level 3. Need for improvement.
Despite the fact that the areas of Komotini and Maronia have satisfactory reputation and image, the practice of the multicultural route is not well known. Level 3
The practice contributes considerably to the dissemination of knowledge with respect to the cultural heritage and the culture of everyday life. Level 2
Contributes to closer ties and understanding between different cultures
Without difficulties. Level 1
Satisfactory
Suitability of the area
Accessibility of elderly
Aesthetics of the area and landscape
Existence of necessary infrastructure at a
reasonable distance
Existence of capabilities compatible with the
main interests of the average senior tourist
Existence of other compatible forms of
tourism
Existence of a suitable management body
Type of the body
Complete infrastructure. Level 1
Swimming, fishing, forests,
Ecotourism, Religious tourism.
Flexibility and effectiveness of the body
Existence of an integrated visitors management plan
Municipal enterprise
Moderate flexibility, possibility for improvement.
The route itself consists a visitors management plan but needs improvement.
Level 3
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TOURage Good Practice for Senior tourism
ACTIVE AND NATURE
Existence of a Promotion – Communication
Plan
Limited and needs redesign. Level 3
10. Transferability of the practices (to other country, region, municipality: is it transferable? already transferred? possible constrains and possible success factors to be taken into account?)
Actions or characteristics that can be transferred to another geographical area
The connection of cultures, religions, traditions and everyday life.
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