CUT research project "TExTOUR: Review of Cultural Tourism in Europe"

On October 22nd 2021, a workshop was held as part of the research project "TExTOUR: Social Innovation and Technologies for sustainable growth through participatory cultural Tourism" - https://textour-project.eu/ , which was hosted at the facilities of Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), in the building of the Rector's Offices.

The organizers of the workshop were the Research Centre "HERAKLITOS" (Dr. Antonis Theocharous) and the "Digital Heritage Research Lab" (Dr. Marinos Ioannides). The event took place both in person and online (via ZOOM) for those interested and the stakeholders involved.

CUT participates in the project representing the area of ​​Fikardou in the province of Nicosia, in collaboration with "GAIA Heritage" for the area of ​​Anfeh (Lebanon).

The village of Fikardou is one of the few traditional mountain settlements in Cyprus that still retains its character and architecture since the 18th century, maintaining its authenticity in harmony with the natural environment.

Fikardou is included in the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage and received the Europa Nostra award in 1987. The aim of the project specifically for Fikardou is to highlight its cultural and architectural heritage, and to validate strategies for the development of this remote area.

The main goal of the Laboratory was to network between the stakeholders and the local community, with the goal of identifying and discussing issues and concerns that exist for the specific area.

Participants at the workshop:

• Local Community and Council of Fikardou
• Department of Antiquities
• Deputy Ministry of Tourism
• Cyprus Institute – Archaeologists
• Travel Agencies
• "FILOKALIA" Research Centre
• The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Trade, and Industry
• The GAIA Heritage - Project team
• The President and Vice President of the Municipal Council of Anfeh
• Professors and Lecturers from CUT

The TExTOUR project is funded by the EU under the H2020 Program, in which 18 partners from different European countries participate, forming the 8 pilots of the project. TExTOUR uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) to develop, implement, test, and validate essential strategies and tools for the development of the participating remote areas, based on their cultural tourism (CT) potential. TExTOUR aims to work with local communities to create social, environmental and economic benefits for all stakeholders and society at large.