The first European Contact Tour of the Culture Route FORTE CULTURA started on the 30th of August 2014. The event took place during the Kostrzyn Fortress Days and was commenced by a Salut from the historical canon. The representatives of FORTE CULTURA visited twelve fortresses and fortress cities in 6 European countries.
Contact meetings took place in: Książ and Nysa in Poland, Olomouc in Czech Republic, Komárom in Hungary, Palmanova, Venice, Verona and Franzensfeste in Italy, Kufstein in Austria and Kronach and Königstein in Germany.
During the public event of the start-meeting in Kostrzyn nad Odra it turned out that many people are interested in the culture route FORTE CULTURA, its travel programmes and even articles on the tour marketing strategies.
In the contact meetings the fortifications presented their tourist offers when the Forte Cultura team spread information on the prepared tourist travel programmes and marketing instruments to promote the fortress tourism under the brand FORTE CULTURA.
The fortresses offered an official reception with their mayors and formal representatives present. Press conferences with local, regional and specialized journalists were held, as well as with TV and broadcasting bodies. Furthermore, local programmes were completed by meetings with local and regional tour operators and strategic tourism partners.
In the result "Declarations of Interest" for the participation in the European culture route FORTE CULTURA were signed, for example with the former Prussian fortifications Nysa and Srebrna Gora (Poland) as well as the Fortress Komarom (Hungary) and the Franzensfeste in Italy.
Signing of the "Declaration of Interest" for participation in the tourist culture route FORTE CULTURA: Mr. K. Niebora, Vice mayor of Srebrna Gora and Mr H. Röder, Chairman of ECCOFORT
During the press conference in Verona Mr. Ambrosini (Province of Verona, 3rd f.l.) and Mrs Pavesi (City of Verona, 2nd f.r.) explained the aims and effects of the European culture route FORTE CULTURA for the fortress cities on the tourist markets.
Highlight was the official public signing of a cooperation agreement between 5 Franconian fortresses and FORTE CULTURA in Kronach.
Signing of the "Declaration of Interest" for participation in the tourist culture route FORTE CULTURA: Mrs. Dr. Weber, Vice mayor of City Coburg and Mr H. Röder, Chairman of ECCOFORT, accompanied by the representatives of fortress cities Lichtenau, Weissenburg and Kulmbach
Fortress Rosenberg in Kronach on the 4th of September 2014: The mayors and vice mayors of Franconian fortress cities after signing their Declarations of Interest and officially agreeing on a future cooperation under the brand "FORTE CULTURA - Franconian-Fortification".
Representatives of the fortifications along the Elbe-river Dömitz, Magdeburg, Torgau, Pirna, Josefov (CZ) and from the fortress Königstein welcomed FORTE CULTURA in the wonderful mountain fortress Königstein. They agreed on a future cooperation under the brand "FORTE CULTURA - Elbe-Fortification"
Development and market implementation of the Culture Route FORTE CULTURA are making great progress. The European Contact Tour 2014 was successful. An image film is in preparation.
Photos: ECCOFORT