About the ProjectProject summary, objectives, implementation

The Hungarian location of the development area is very favourable, as it is located in the immediate vicinity of two triple boundaries, it is close to Austria and Croatia and bordered by Slovenia. The neighbouring countries are located at a distance of up to 30 km from the outermost point of the region, and visitors to this region can get acquainted with the most important attractions of 4 countries during a long weekend, which makes the area well-selling from a tourist point of view. The project focuses on combination and harmonized development of the historical energy industry-related tourism attractions of the area. The main central thread of the project which connects the different project elements is the energy industry tradition which was very important in all settlements of the target area in the past and which is still a potential of future developments, mainly from touristic point of view. Both in Hungarian and in Croatian side, energy industry and exploitation of energy potential played very important role in the everyday life of citizens in the past: drilling of oil was crucially important in developments of South Zala for a long period of time in the area of Gosztola and Lovászi, while in Mursko Središće a special methodology was used for extraction of oil. Interactive exhibition facilities will be designed and developed in the project to show this unique, energy-related tourism attraction to the wide public.

Bunkers, built in the Cold War period as part of the Hungarian Maginot line, can be discovered in a number of settlements in the area, forming a network. One of its major locations has remained and can be visited at the border of Páka. Another significant location for this period is the bunker system in Lovászi, which was built to protect the most important oil company (formerly named: MAORT) at that time. The location is nationwide speciality due to its size and its potential for tourism use.

Memorial Miner House in Mursko Središće and Memorial Oil Park in Peklenica are historically related and have a big importance for the area. While Mursko Središće is known as the town of miners, Peklenica is known as the first oil exploitation site in the world in the 19th century used for economic purposes. The unique bunker of Lovászi will be presented in a way to highlight its history connected to the oil mining, as the whole bunker was built for protection of former oil workers from possible attacks from Yugoslavia. Also, Mursko Središće will equip its Memorial Mining House with modern exhibition elements, throwing light on the coal mining history of the area.

To reflect on modern ways of sustainable energy usage, city of Lenti will establish an energy-park in Lentiszombathely with up-to-date facilities like solar tree and benches.
The whole tri-border area will be connected by an ENERGY TOUR thematic study trail from Lentiszombathely to Mursko Središće with a length of 42 km, crossing the tri-border area, including all settlements with the previously described set of tourism attractions. Apart from signposting the study trail, Gosztola will also actively promote the trail to attract more tourists to this exceptional area.

The project aims to achieve a greater development impact on the cross-border area, especially in the field of tourism and preservation of cultural heritage by linking local communities, service providers and the local population. The project will offer tourism products in the border area and this will increase influx of tourists which will further stimulate development of supply and small local businesses.

The general objective of the project is:

to convert the common industrial and cultural heritage of the oil extraction in tourism attractions on the Hungarian and Croatian side of the tri-border area. Improve the quality of tourism services in the border area in order to provide attractive, high-quality service for visitors, encouraging them to spend more time in the region.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• The project aim is to jointly develop tourism attractions based on traditional energy industry to diversify the tourism portfolio of the tri-border area.
• Development of the image of an attractive, authentic and unique tourism destination.
• Carrying out promotional activities for the sake of attracting more tourists, increase the visibility and enhance the cross-border tourism destinations.

The project’s expected outputs:

• 4 authentic and attractive cultural touristic sites:
  • Bunker in Lovászi
  • Memorial Oil Park in Peklenica (Mursko Središće)
  • Memorial Miner House in Mursko Središće
  • Energy-park in Lentiszombathely
• ENERGY TOUR thematic study trail signposted
• 5 jointly organized, thematic events for children and students
• 1 study tour for press and media
• printed marketing materials, promotional gifts to promote the project.
• promotional video to disseminate the project

• Improved tourist attractions based on industrial and cultural heritage of the oil extraction in order to diversify the tourism portfolio of the region.
• 13 000 visitors attracted to the cultural heritage sites in Hungary and Croatia

The project aims to achieve a greater development impact on the cross-border area, especially in the field of tourism and preservation of industrial and cultural heritage by linking local communities, service providers and the local population. The project will offer tourism products in the border area and this will increase influx of tourists which will further stimulate development of supply and small local businesses.

Project activities:

1. Project administration and management

2. Information and publicity

3. Investment in energy tourism attractions

• Reconstruction one part of the bunker in Lovászi and creating interactive tourism attraction.
• Purchase of equipment to install an energy parc in Lentiszombathely.
• Establish ENERGY TOUR thematic study trail (Lentiszombathely-Lenti-Gosztola/Lendvadedes-Lovászi-Mursko Središće)
• Purchase of equipment to create the Memorial Miner House in Mursko Središće
• Reconstruction and improvement of the Memorial Oil Park in Peklenica

4. Joint promotion of newly developed attractions

In order to promote the joint tourism attractions promotion activities will be the followings:

• Project common visual identity will be elaborated.
• Joint promotional campaign will be conducted through offline and on-line media.
• Existing tourism website will be developed to assure the accessibility of the tourism attractions.
• Study tour for press and media will be organized.
• Promotion presents will be designed and prepared.
• Miners monography and promotion video film will be elaborated.
• Brochures will be designed and printed.

5. Joint thematic innovative events connected to energy

Joint thematic events will be organized for children:

• “treasure-hunt” and “spy-game” in Lovászi
• “energy-day” and “excursion day” in Lenti
• “following the Miner’s Trails” in Mursko Središće