Lišov is located in the southern part of central Slovakia, on the border of the Nitra and Banská Bystrica self-governing regions, in the historical region of Hont. The Hont region is well known to tourists thanks to its lively folk traditions, rural architecture and viticulture, which is famous for its specific local autochthonous grape varieties. The landscape has a typical rural character. Lišov has preserved folk houses and there are specific rock dwellings carved into the tuff rocks of the volcanic mountain range (Krupina plateau). 

Today's territory of the village was inhabited by Neolithic cultures and also in the younger Bronze Age. The first written mention of a medieval village dates back to the second half of the 13th century. Farming, specifically viticulture and stonemasonry, were typical livelihood activities in the past. The countryside in Slovakia generally suffers from depopulation. However, this is not the case in Lišov. The population is predominantly of the productive age group and no population decline has been observed over the last 20 years. These predispositions of the rural environment, among other factors, stimulated the establishment of the Civic Association (CA) Lišov Museum in 2015. Over the last 7 years, the OZ Lišov Museum has become popular and attracts foreign visitors. This means that the hitherto unnoticed but picturesque village of Lišov has become known far beyond the borders of the region and Slovakia.​

Thanks to the cultural events and festivals associated with the Lišov Museum, the village is known to tourists beyond the borders of the Hont region. The Lišov Museum has also financed the creation of the Masks Gallery, which contains an interesting collection of masks from different countries around the world, which also attracts foreign visitors. 

The Lišov Museum operates as an innovative community organisation providing educational tourism in the small village of Lišov. OZ Lišov Museum provides tourist educational activities and services in its three buildings; the first is a traditional Lišov Folk House called "Lišov Room" and showcases typical local and regional architectural features in a room that is decorated in a rural folk style; the second is a replica of a Celtic dwelling; and the third is the Mask Gallery, which houses a small shop with handmade products from local craftsmen, artists, and farmers. The Lišov Museum Association is currently working on the restoration of the 1887 house. Original materials such as clay, stone and wood are being used for the renovation. In the future, it is planned that there will be a café. The Lišov Museum is actively involved in educational activities funded by the ERASMUS+ programme and several exchanges have been carried out annually through this grant programme. The educational tourism business strategy combines innovative aspects that interact with expert knowledge of local and regional history and traditions. This core activity is further diversified into services provided directly in the three buildings.

The preserved folk architecture and traditionally farmed agricultural landscape create valuable landscape features that increase the attractiveness of the landscape for tourists compared to commercially farmed agricultural landscapes with monocultures and large blocks of fields. In addition, traditional landscapes have significant natural values and are rich in biodiversity.
The OZ Lišov Museum has also become popular through its website and social networks: info@lisovmuzeum.sk www.lisovmuzeum.sk.

​Tran is a region in Central Western Bulgaria and borders the Republic of Serbia.
Once the town of Trаn was the main town / center of the district, but today it is a small municipality, including 52 settlements (51 villages and the town of Trаn.) It is located 70 km. west of the capital Sofia.
Municipality of Tran is defined as a mountain region, it has a key geographical position - on the border with the Republic of Serbia, located in a uniquely beautiful and clean natural environment, with many cultural, historical, and religious monuments and natural resources. Tran region has the potential and prerequisites to become an attractive tourist destination, to attract suitable investors and to provide employment opportunities for local people and young entrepreneurs.

One of the symbols of Tran is the rock chapel of St. Petka. 
​Interesting places to visit are the villages of “Busintsi” and “Studen Izvor” with the museums of ceramics and yogurt, and the biggest natural phenomenon is the gorge of the river Erma.
Despite the low development of tourist infrastructure (and maybe thanks to that!) Tran region is visited by lots of mountain tourists with its many opportunities for hiking, trekking and adventure sports.
In Tran region there are great conditions for mountain tourism. A Tran eco-trail has been built near the town. The most famous route is to Mount Rui, the highest in the area, which offers a wonderful view of the whole region. Rui Mountain is the most impressive in the municipality of Tran, and the peak is 1706 m high, as the border line between Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro passes along the very ridge of the peak. From there is a magnificent view in all directions.
Several definitely interesting caves await their researchers for adventure tourism.
Some of the favorite places for rest of the locals and tourists are the Vrabcha waterfall under the rocks before the village of Vrabcha, as well as the chapel of the Holy Mother of God after the village of Mramor. Tourists, who stay in a tent in the summer on the meadows in the forest, claim that at night they really understand what it means "the stars to land on your heads"!
Many ancient and forgotten fortresses in the Tran region await their visitors, one of the most preserved is Kaleto above the village of Filipovtsi, and in the heart of Znepole rises a whole ancient and unexplored city - the fortress Zeman (Zemun) between Yarlovtsi and Zelenigrad, at the foot of which the ancient the Romans built mineral baths, used by the locals even at the beginning of the last century.

The network of 11 thematic ciclo routes go through la Ribera from the inland to the coast. 
The orography of La Ribera offers the cyclist a flat landscape, with few slopes. A walk through its history surrounded by orange groves, rice fields and persimmon trees. A delight for the eyes and for the nose, which is impregnated with the sweet scent of orange blossom. The hospitality of its inhabitants, the calm of its villages offer the visitor a comforting holiday. 
The orange route, the tours road, the iron bridge road or the river Xúquer road are some of the most desired ones.  You can read more about it on: CICLOTURISMO
 
The Xúquer river bathes the region from north to south and offers visitors a variety of activities: cycling, fishing, kayaking, paddle surfing. But the sporting event of the Descent of the Xúquer is one of the most awaited. It is a sporting event, but also a popular one, which makes the river more dynamic and shows an incredible natural heritage full of life and nature. Hundreds of canoes invade the river to enjoy this natural resource so precious in the region. 

Hiking lovers will find in La Ribera a complete offer of approved trails (GR, PR and SL) where they can go Nordic Walking, horse riding or birdwatching. 
​

Bovino, Italy

Monti Dauni: where we are and how to reach us
The Monti Dauni are located in southern Italy, precisely in the Puglia region, of which they constitute the most authentic territory, as it is not a destination for mass tourism.
 
The authentic soul of Puglia
A different and unexpected destination compared to the rest of the region, guardian of an extraordinary variety of colors and emotions: let yourself be seduced by the soft profile of the mountains that blush kissed by the setting sun, enchanted by the rustle of the leaves moved by the wind or by the song of the fresh streams protected by luxuriant woods.
The Monti Dauni are characterized by the presence of medieval villages, whose skylines are often dominated by the profiles of castles and churches, where the squares can be reached by crossing cobbled streets where the hooves of the steeds of knights and pilgrims still resonate.
Photo: View of Faeto and Celle di San Vito - credit: Luigi Casoria

Archeology and history
On Monti Dauni it is possible to follow an ideal itinerary that from village to village and from agro to agro leads us to discover the traces of the presence of an ancient people, the Dauni, and then of Rome and the signs left by the Byzantines, Normans and Swabians, from Templars and Crusaders, Angevins and Aragonese, shepherds and brigands.
Between archaeological excavations from every era, ancient abandoned cities, museums with wonderful finds, castles, towers and fortresses, this is a true paradise for history buffs.
Photo: Grifoni - P. Rosario Museum - Ascoli Satriano - credits. Niki Dell’Anno

Cults and culture
The soul of Monti Dauni rich in memories and rituals that combine the sacred and the profane, passing through pilgrimages, art festivals, cultural events, through legends, beliefs, superstitions, etc ...
They range from the many fires lit at various times of the year to coincide with the changes of seasons and in honor of the deceased loved ones, of Sant'Antonio Abate, of San Sebastiano or of San Giuseppe to pilgrimages often in devotion to the Madonna.
Each period of the year offers a deeper and more authentic experience of knowledge of the local culture.
Photo: Feast of Sant’Alberto - Pietramontecorvino - credit: Luigi Casoria
 
Nature and Adventure
Sweet and rugged reliefs, valleys drawn by the course of rivers and streams, surrounded by the ruins of ancient mills, woods with thick vegetation, furrowed by paths and enriched by the presence of centuries-old oaks and then ... beech woods and lakes, high pastures and breathtaking views .
The Monti Dauni are an unmissable destination for lovers of nature and outdoor sports: from trekking to acrobatic routes in adventure parks.
Photo: Archery - Bosco di Biccari - credit Niki Dell’Anno
​
Food and wine
The spontaneous fruits of the earth, cured meats, cheeses, dairy products, fresh pasta, lioliuo, wine, baked goods, traditional recipes…. All precious pleasures for the palate.
A journey into taste, from cellar to cellar, from restaurant to restaurant .... Let yourself be enveloped by seductive and unmistakable flavors!
Photo: Cheeses and Cured Meats - credit Get Local
 
The experiences
Food and wine tours? Guided tours in the villages? A traditional cooking workshop? Hiking in the woods? Traditional music festival? Sleeping in a castle or in a tree? Find out how olive oil is produced? Dine in a cellar? These are some of the many experiences that the Dauni Mountains offer and that you can find on the website / app www.visitmontidauni.it , as well as accommodation facilities, restaurants, companies and local products.

Alba county, Romania

​Rimetea is considered one of the most beautiful village in Romania, with history, rural architecture and wonderful landscapes, at the base of Trascau Mountains. Local tale explain the name of the mountain, when back in 13 century, the Secui (Hungarian local ethnics) had to flee to the mountains from Tartars occupation, by getting hide in the calcareous massif.
One spectaculars phenomena that is happening in this village is that “the sun is rising twice” during summer due to the massif that keeps shadow over the village during morning, even if the sun is up, and it get lighter after it cross the massif as well.
 
Short history:
As a mining village, Rimetea had some benefits back in 14 century, from the side of Hungarian King, by sending handcraft man here to be taught by the locals and increased the socio-economic life.
Way back to 150 years ago, this village almost disappeared under a wildfire, fact which is not visible nowadays anymore and the massive “white houses” are built to reconstruct the village.
Since 1999, this village is part of UNESCO patrimony and the village won the price “Our Europe”.
 
We recommend Rimetea for a quiet and relaxing weekend, but if you are searching for something more interactive, here is a list with marvelous destinations at a bat throw
- Ethnographic museum, in the village
- Turda Valley – mountain area at 15 km distance
- Secuiului Stone – 1.5 km distance
- Băișoara ski slope at 24 kilometres
- Vălișoar Valley at 8 kilometres
- Colțești citadel – 6 kilometres distance
- Ciucaș waterfall, 13 kilometres away
- Râmeț Monastery, 17 kilometres away
- Salina Turda, 22 kilometres away.
 
To plan your visit to Rimetea, Romania, check more pictures here and choose the accommodation that fits your desires: from holiday houses, guests houses until pension houses where you can find local food as well.
 
How to get there:
By car from

• Cluj Napoca (which is the closest airport), following the national road to Buru, or through Turda
• Targu Mures, another airport
• Alba Iulia through Aiud

By train until train station Aiud or Teius, where you have to change with a local tread to Rimetea or by cab from both train stations. 

Here is a study who aimed to comprehend rural tourism marketing through the visitors’ eyes and discuss its sustainability. What makes rural tourism marketing more sophisticated and complex is that it is a service marketing, associated with agricultural activities, natural conditions and rural areas, and the main providers have no experience in rural tourism or service marketing.

The study investigated perception of visitors in a small village, Kuyucak, in the Southwest part of Turkey, where rural tourism based on lavender production has recently developed. Results of the analysis of 175 questionnaires completed by visitors online showed that more than half of the respondents had heard and got information about the village via social media. Although, the main purpose of their visit was stated as nature/rural experience and recreation/holiday, the primary motivation of the majority was taking and sharing photos via social media tools.

Appearance of lavender and previous social media sharing are very important determinants in the decision-making and expectations of visitors. Results of the factor analysis showed that two components composed of the variables regarding pre-visit perception and the physical conditions of the village together explain sixty-five per cent of the overall satisfaction.
The most important component in decision making of visitors was found their perception before visiting, which means that what they expected to see was more important than what they actually saw, which was represented by visitors’ satisfaction. Making visitors experience their pre-visit perception will contribute to the sustainability of rural tourism activities benefiting the area.

Read more

The Parliament voted on the INI report on Sustainable Tourism. The resolution on an EU strategy for sustainable tourism was adopted by 577 votes to 31, and 80 abstentions.
It notes that the COVID-19 outbreak has paralysed the EU’s tourism sector, putting millions of jobs at risk.

You can read the full document here: ​shorturl.at/egBNO

The Access-IT project seeks to address the competence gap on accessible tourism amomg SMEs in the toursm sector by offering a comprehensive training in the fields of accessible tourism, innovation and sustainable development of Natural and Rural Areas. Funded by the EU ERASMUS+ Programme, Key Action 2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices. KA202 - Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training.

For more info check the project website: ​http://accessitpro.eu/

The focus of this document is on promoting digital transformation in villages and rural areas.
The rationale behind it is that government institutions and stakeholders at all levels are putting in place a wide range of strategies to improve digital infrastructure, increase digital usage, enhance digital skills and inclusion, and promote digital innovation in rural areas.
However, to optimise the benefits, these initiatives need to engage with and prioritise the needs and concerns of rural communities and stakeholders themselves.
Smart Villages Strategies can help overcome the digital gap by recognising the different starting points of rural areas and villages and co-designing digital pathways from the bottom-up while at the same time building bridges with the essential top-down strategies. 

Read more here.