Project acronym: INSPIRACIJA (1.277.550,00 ERDF)
Lead Partner: Občina Trbovlje
Project Partners: Razvojno informacijski center Slovenska Bistrica, Labin Art Express XXI, Riječka razvojna agencija Porin d.o.o., Muze d.o.o. za savjetovanje i upravljanje u kulturi i turizmu, Naj Tura d.o.o., Turistička zajednica Grada Labina
The common cross-border challenge is the need to revitalise industrial heritage towns and activate them by means of sustainable tourism. The images of town centres in the former mining and factory towns Trbovlje, Labin, Rijeka and Slovenska Bistrica are sad ones of desolate dilapidated buildings. At the same time, these towns are rich in unique industrial cultural heritage – desolate mining shafts, chimneys, former miners’ lodgings, the remains of, for those times, innovative factories and workshops, and diverse cultural happenings. In spite of these riches, these towns face a negative public profile, brain drain, high unemployment and utterly dispersed approaches to servicing visitors.
The project’s objective is therefore to revitalise the decrepit industrial parts of participating towns, so that their revived unique industrial heritage builds up the towns’ appeal both for the locals and visitors. The area’s common history will receive an attractive interpretation in contemporary information centres at the central heritage sites. This content will be offered to visitors in the form of an all-in-one sustainable culture tourism product INSPIRACIJA (INSPIRATION), which will connect 4 revitalised heritage sites under a common brand, setting up: a common cross-border circular tour from the Pohorje sawmills and mills to the Trbovlje and Labin mines, and finally to the port of Rijeka; all-in-one programmes for different target groups; and unique ways of experiencing industrial culture: escape from a mine/factory, a common festival and a biennale of industrial heritage.
Such a common cross-border approach is innovative as we are connecting local know-how and upgrading it with top experts’ insights, which will allow a sustainable presentation and experience of industrial heritage based on local resources. Local tourist providers and entrepreneurs will build on their know-how and connect across the border to create a unique cultural and tourism product. The common entry on international markets will also be a breakthrough, being based on interactive media, visitor inclusion, and digital presentation.
