Kikinda and Timisoara to enhance tourist offer – Cross-border cooperation project worth EUR 345,000

The project of cross-border cooperation with Romania, Local Heritage for Active Tourism in Banat, was presented at the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kikinda to representatives of cultural institutions, tourist agencies, hospitality facilities, ethno associations and regional chambers of commerce from the territory of Banat.

The town of Kikinda and the West University of Timisoara are partners in this project, and the National Museum of Kikinda is involved as well.

The project aims to strengthen the border areas of Banat through joint promotion of the local heritage and development of tourism and is designed so as to enhance the cooperation in the fields of tourism, hospitality and trades to the end of providing a more quality tourist offer on both the Romanian and the Serbian side of Banat. Sasa Tanackov, member of the Town Council of Kikinda and project coordinator, pointed out that there had been similar projects in the field of tourism before, but that they had remained undefined.

– I want us to connect all target groups with this project, from women's associations, restaurants, to tourist agencies and chambers of commerce in Banat in Serbia and Romania. The inclusion of restaurants in very important to us as we want to build a brand, to have food from Banat served in our restaurants, but also to unify the current ethno events so that programs would not overlap. The aim of the project is truly far-reaching, and we are ready to make it come true in order to be able to provide guests with a unique tourist offer – Tanackov says.

The project entails the establishment of an IT platform, which will present information and promote the cultural heritage as a cross-border potential, filming a promotional video about the cultural heritage of Banat and printing a book called Banat in 10 Different Ways.

Professor Otilia Hedesan, Prorector at the West University of Timisoara, expressed her pleasure over the fact that the institution was once again cooperating with partners in Kikinda on an 18-month project.

This cross-border cooperation project is worth EUR 345,815, of which EUR 42,000 will be put at the disposal of the town of Kikinda and the National Museum of Kikinda. The museum will turn research on the traditional food of Banat into a book of cooking recipes.

The financial manager of the project, Andrei Pelin from Timisoara, emphasizes that the field research, which will encompass four regions in Romania and Serbia, was a very important activity, following which both countries would carry out training workshops for tourist guides and entrepreneurs.

Grad Kikinda

Narodni muzej Kikinda

RPK Kikinda

West University of Timisoara

National Museum of Kikinda

Local Heritage for Active Tourism in Banat

Sasa Tanackov

Otilia Hedesan

Andrei Pelin