SWOT Analysis Religious Cultural Tourism Religious Cultural assets Potential value in Greece

Partner: EBEX Released: July 9th 2012

THE OPERATIVE PHASE Description of context (overview) A brief description of tourist services toward religious Tourism in Italy. A SWOT analysis is the systematic production of reliable policy guidance on Xathi’s Prefecture. In particular the combined study of SWOT data parwise leads to new quarters containing realistic proposals for the direction

and content of developmental

strategies. The proposed area is a unique geographical entity in which they can flourish and the quality of life in residential and commercial and economic activity as the consequence of an integrated urban development structured city. The lack of an overall design that includes urban areas and the provision for development in all areas of well-being of citizens after 20 and 30 years has removed from any initiatives and projects to complement and visionary element. The urban environment of the site is greatly improved over the last 20 years but not at the extend needed in order the city of Xanthi to attain European standards. The emergence of the strategic advantages of the city of Xanthi can derive from exploitation of the opportunities identified in the external environment, along the following lines: 1. Expansion and completion of interconnection infrastructure with Balkan hinterland 2. Support business extroversion into adjacent markets 3. Attracting private investment and Foreign Direct Investments in the energy sector 4. Development by innovation, technological evolution and research 5. Encourage of sustainable tourist practices and productt differentiation 6. Promotion of a Strategic Development Plan for the city of Xanthi The reversal or amendment the developmental disadvantages of the area depend on the coordinated use of external opportunities, combining the following guidelines: 1. Capital Investments - completing the transport infrastructure network

2. Strengthening territorial cohesion and balanced regional development 3. Compliance with environmental law and environmental resource management 4. Promotion of digital convergence 5. Encourage non-technological innovation in Mass Media and adaptability of the productive base to world market developments

An effective response to the threats identified in the external environment through the exploitation of existing advantages (strengths) of the city of Xanthi is based on the following fields: 1. Enhancing vertical and horizontal linkages in the productive basis for adding value locally 2. Adapting educational and social infrastructure in the new data (mobility of human resources, new knowledge) 3. Supporting the restructuring of primary production with comprehensive assistance in rural areas Finally, the reduction of threat influences will derive from targeted actions in order to limit the intensity and frequency of disadvantages (weaknesses) as: 1. Preserving social cohesion with complementary interventions to improve the standard of living, social integration and productive activity of specific population groups 2. Prevention and management of environmental risks.

 

  STRENGTHS  

WEAKNESSES   Ø

Ø The location of the prefecture as a link between East and West Ø The unique location with sightseeing that attracts the visitor and the architectural settlements of the maintained Old City Ø The architectural diversity of shops of the settlement Ø The rapidly increasing tendency for alternative tourism Ø The existence of specialized institutions for the projection, attracting and service of tourist flow

Economic crisis

Ø Closure enterprises in the city center because of significant operational cost. Ø Weakening of the trade center and its identity Ø Decreased interesting in research and development Ø

Lack of infrastructure

Ø

Lack of transportation

Ø Providing individual tourist services (simple accommodation) Ø Seasonal and temporally discontinuous tourist movement

The delay of publication of Ø The many and important sightseeing Ø building authorization of cultural tourism Ø The progressive development of tourism conscience of businessmen and residents

Ø The low degree of connection of tourist circuit with the local production and the unilateral development of tourist activities

Ø The establishment of qualitative specifications via local quality agreement

Ø Low level of networking enterprises

Ø The multiculturalism and the absence of regionalism

Ø Low level of training and faculties on issues of business dexterity and strategy

Ø Travel diode Xanthi Zlatovgkrant Ø Start of implementation study of construction vertical axis Xanthi –

Ø The lack of innovative action and originality in the actions of the cultural events (such as carnival

Smolyan. Ø Upgrading of the city center Ø The existence of individual research institutions and organizations on issues of technological development , Egnatia Odos, Upgrading of the Porto Lagos, Broadband Networks Ø Structural improvement of city centre Ø Upgrading of national road network from/ to nearby prefectures Ø The existing Muslim area Ø The more experience of local authorities with respect to neighboring countries in the management of community programs and subsidies Ø Continuous upgrading of built environment in Old Town and the center of urban fabric by interventions in buildings and infrastructure Ø Rich built environment Ø Buildings dating from the 18 century.

fests, etc. Ø Lack of of major investments to ensure the retention of the active workforce in the region Ø Lack of information for entrepreneurs in the region Ø Lack of training methods and training Ø Lack of association of education with the labor market. Ø Disparity in educational attainment of the total population Ø

Job insecurity

 

OPPORTUNITIES Ø Economic support for investments to the area via programs of financing aid as well as contribution of cultural events of high attraction of visitors. Ø Big constructing projects (Egnatia Road, the vertical axis linking Xanthi (Greece) to Zlatogrant (Bulgaria)) to enhance infrastructures and the accessibility to the town. Ø Train people through newly established faculties in order to promote the alternative tourism. Ø To promote multiculturalism and religious tourism due to the many monasteries in the region Ø Develop intergovernmental cooperation with neighboring countries Ø Introduction expertise and high quality services to the markets of neighboring countries Ø Coordination of research institutes for research and applications in advanced technology Ø Utilization of the port at Porto Lagos as a commercial port Ø Vertical axis Greece and Bulgaria

THREATS Ø Oversupply of the product of alternative tourism Ø Neglect of other sectors of economic activity Ø The lack of a single strategy for upgrade, renewal, growth and right management of the Old City Ø Due to the financial crisis, abandon the developmental planning of the Old City of Xanthi (plans to enhance existing infrastructures and the quality, to attract more tourists) Ø Increase of illegal Trade Ø Low consumption capacity of residents due to financial crisis Ø The opening of markets and in introduction of Chinese, Turkish, Bulgarian products will flood the local market Ø Relocation domestic production facilities to countries with low labor costs. Ø Threat of exclusion from access to vital services

Ø Establishment of schools to provide training in subjects related to the capabilities and needs of the area of the region.

Ø Reduction of entrepreneurship due to closure of many enterprises primarily in the downtown.

Ø Strengthen the role of the Public Employment employment programs and maintaining jobs due to financial crisis

Ø Deserted place and aging population due to economic migration

Ø Strengthen the role of each institution to improve the quality of life Ø Upgrading the quality of services provided Ø Create electronic network interconnection services, citizens and businesses at local level Ø Better coordination and cooperation of local bodies

     

Ø In the case of non innovative actions in planning the fests, the interest of tourists will be lost and oriented in other regions Ø Oversupply of the product of alternative Tourism Ø Neglect of other sectors of economic activity