An important project for the promotion and development of cultural heritage started to be implemented. On Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 July 2020, the Kick off Meeting of the project Beneficiaries was held with physical and online presence, in Arta, for the project SMARTiMONY, which is implemented within the framework of the Cross-Border cooperation program «Greece-Albania 2014-2020».

The Leader Beneficiary of the project is the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing (KIC-Lab)-University of Ioannina, and participate as Beneficiaries the Municipality of Igoumenitsa, the Prefecture of Gjirokastra and the Regional Centre for Development and Cooperation (RCDC) which based in Tirana.

The project SMARTiMONY aims to:

• the promotion of cultural tourism
• the adoption of new innovative methods based on the culture, for economic and social development
• to strengthen the tourism product through the cultural and creative industry
• in attracting tourists utilizing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage through innovative narrative and multimedia techniques
• in the creation of sites of cultural interest, based on a new model of experiential experience
• in providing tourist experiences based on the combination of innovative products / ICT services for the promotion of tangible and intangible assets of cultural heritage

The Director of the Laboratory and Scientific Responsible of the project, Prof.  Chrysostomos Stylios, highlighted that the main objective of the project is the sustainable development, based on the society and the utilization of cultural heritage, and reported extensively to technological innovations will be implemented within the project, which will strengthen and promote cultural values, changing the way which the cultural heritage assets affect in a Cross Border level.

The Second day, a Study Visit took place in important points of interest with remarkable tourist potential with the aim of creating the cross-border «Experiential Heritage Corridor», which is intended the main motivation of the tourist trip.

Representatives of the Beneficiaries participated in the Study Visit and stakeholders in the field of culture and tourism, who discussed issues of utilization of culture and cultural communication with the public. The action closed with the 1st Evaluation Workshop and the participation of interested parties in the realization of the project.

For more information about the Project, interested parties can contact the Laboratory of Knowledge and Intelligent Computing (contact@kic.uoi.gr and 2681050234).