Creation of a water amusement trail on the river Bodrog and its tributaries

Water tourism has been active for a long time on the river Bodrog and its tributaries. On the Slovak side, of the five tributaries of the river Bodrog, only the rivers Laborec and Latorica are appropriate for the performance small vessel traffic, in addition to the special protection area denoted by the Ramsar agreement, situated along the river Laborec and a similar area - Bodrogzug - near the city of Tokaj. These two protected areas are connected by the natural green corridor of the river Bod rog. This project aims at the development of a comprehensive attraction package built on active eco-tourism performed on the 80 km cross-border section of river Bodrog and its tributaries between Tokaj and Oborín. The comprehensive nature is shown al so in the fact that these activity types shall be implemented at multiple settlements and venues, with the help of multiple partners performing tourism services, as well as municipalities. The direct goal of the project is to increase the attractiven ess and make the tourism attractions at the river Bodrog and its tributaries available to the public by establishing waterways, bicycle trails, horse riding trails and by creating the natural, architectural and IT infrastructure necessary for all of this. Its elements are the following: Restoration of the water transport capacity of the canals in the region of Bodrogzug, their reconstruction, creation of docks for ships, creation of an on-line registration interface and a mobile application. Cr eation of an information and demonstration centre at four places Development of tourism attractions related to a waterway: bird observation/photo point, nature trail; fishing demonstration program; beekeepers' house Creation of horse riding and bicyc le trails Procurement of assets and training of local service personnel for the purposes of sustainability Creation of a mentor program popularising boat sports

Na rieke Bodrog a na jej prítokoch prebieha vodná turistika už aj v súčasnosti, predovšetkým na 48 km dlhom úseku rieky medzi štátnou hranicou a mestom Tokaj, resp. na kanáloch v oblasti Bodrogzug - celkový počet vodných turistov sa odhaduje na 14 až 15 000. Z piatich prítokov rieky sú na Slovensku vhodné na bezpečný výkon prevádzky malých plavidiel iba Laborec a Latorica, resp. chránené vtáčie územie pri rieke Laborec, vymedzené Ramsarskou dohodou, podobne ako oblasť Bodrogzug pri Tokaji. Tieto 2 chránené oblasti sú spojené prirodzeným zeleným koridor rieky Bodrog, čo predstavuje potenciál pre niekoľkodňový aktívny odpočinok. Projekt je zameraný na vybudovanie komplexného balíka atrakcií založeného na aktívnom turizme v cezhraničnej oblasti medzi Tokajom a Oborínom, na úseku 80 km, na rieke Bodrog a jej prítokoch. Komplexnosť sa prejavuje aj tým, že jednotlivé typy činností sa realizujú v mnohých obciach a mnohých miestach, za pomoci partnerov z oblasti poskytovania služieb cestovného ruchu, resp. samospráv. Priamym cieľom projektu ide zvýšiť atraktivitu oblasti Bodrogu jeho prítokov, sprístupniť túto oblasť pre vodný cestovný ruch, cykloturistiku a jazdy na koňoch, vytvorením prirodzenej infraštruktúry, architektúry a IT infraštruktúry rozvojových aktivít. Prvkami projektu sú: - Obnova a rekonštrukcia prietoku kanálov v oblasti Bodrogzug, vytvorenie prístavísk, obstaranie člnov a lodí, vytvorenie on-line registračnej plochy a mobilná aplikácia. - Vytvorenie informačného a demonštračného centra v štyroch miestach. - Rozvoj doplnkových turistických atrakcií spojených s vodnou trasou: miesta pre sledovanie vtáctva/fotografovanie, náučný chodník; program predstavujúci činnosť rybárov; včelársky dom. - Vytvorenie trás pre turistiku na koňoch a bicykloch. - Obstaranie prostriedkov a školenie miestneho obslužného personálu pre zabezpečenie udržateľnosti. - Realizácia mentorského programu pre popularizáciu vodných športov - kanoistiky a pádlovania vo všeobecnosti.

A projekt címe: Creation of a water amusement trail on the river Bodrog and its tributaries. A Bodrogon és eredetfolyóin jelenleg is zajlik víziturizmus, elsősorban a határ és Tokaj közötti 48 km-es folyószakaszon, valamint a Bodrogzug csatornáin jelenik meg az évente kb 14-15 ezer főre tehető víziturista. A szlovák oldalon található öt eredetfolyó közül a Laborc és a Latorca alkalmas kishajóforgalom biztonságos bonyolítására, valamint a Laborc folyó mentén található a Ramsai egyezmény által is dedikált madárvédelmi terület, hasonlóan a Tokaj mellett található Bodrogzughoz. A két egyedi védelem alatt álló területet köti össze a Bodrog folyó természetes zöld folyósója, amely többnapos aktív kikapcsolódás élményét hordozza. A projekt aktív ökoturizmusra épülő komplex attrakciócsomag kifejlesztését célozza a Tokaj és Abara közötti, határon átnyúló, 80 km-es szakaszon a Bodrog és eredetfolyói mentén, melynek egyes kínálati elemei kiegészítik egymást. A komplexitás abban is megnyilvánul, hogy sok településen és helyszínen, több turisztikai szolgáltató partner és önkormányzat bevonásával valósulnak meg az egyes tevékenységtípusok. A projekt közvetlen célja, hogy a Bodrog és eredetfolyói mentén a turisztikai vonzerőket növelje és elérhetővé tegye a vízi, kerékpáros, lovas túraútvonalak kiépítésével, természetes, épített, és informatikai infrastrukturális háttér kialakításával. Elemei: A bodrogzugi csatornák vízszállító képességének visszaállítása, rekonstrukciója, vízi kikötő pontok létesítése, csónakok, hajók beszerzése, regisztrációs informatikai felület és mobil applikáció. 4 helyen információs-bemutató központ kialakítása. A vízi útvonalhoz kapcsolódó kiegészítő turisztikai attrakciók fejlesztése: madármegfigyelő/fotós pontok, tanösvény; halászati bemutató program; méhesház. Lovas- és kerékpáros túraútvonalak kialakítása. Fenntartást szolgáló eszközbeszerzések és a helyi kiszolgáló humán erőforrás képzése. Az evezőssportokat népszerűsítő mentorprogram megvalósítása.

The Aggtelek National Park Directorate and the Town of Oborín submitted a successful project application in response to the call issued within the Slovakia-Hungary Interreg V-A Cross-Border Cooperation Programme to increase the attractiveness of the cross-border region for the development of quality tourism based on shared natural and cultural values. The project named "Vytvorenie vodnej zážitkovej cesty na rieke Bodrog a jej prítokoch (Creation of a water amusement trail on the river Bodrog and its tributaries); code: SKHU/1601/1.1/038) received a total grant of €2.612 million in support. Water-based tourism was once commonplace on the Bodrog River and its tributaries, primarily on the 48 km-long section of the river between the international border and the town of Tokaj, and the canals in the Bodrogzug region, while the total number of water-borne tourists per year is estimated at 14 to 15,000 thousand. Of the five tributaries of the river in Slovakia, only the Laborec and Latorica are safely navigable for small watercraft. The Bodrog, as a natural green corridor, connects protected bird areas whose protection is ensured under the Ramsar Agreement, namely the protected bird area on the Laborec River and the Bodrogzug area near Tokaj in Hungary. The many local natural values have the inherent potential for multi-day tours that deliver active recreational experiences. This joint Hungarian-Slovak project completed from 2017 to 2019 was focused on building a comprehensive package of attractions based on active tourism in the cross-border region between the town of Tokaj in Hungary and the village of Oborín in Slovakia and related infrastructure over an 80 km-long section, on the Bodrog River and its tributaries so that the individual elements complement each other in terms of the services they provide and their links to nearby tourism attractions (including the Tokaj wine region, the Zemplín region, castles and the like). One of the project’s outcomes was ensuring the navigability of the waterways in the Bodrogzug area for fans of water sports and making the route much longer than was previously available, specifically by cleaning out canals, creating navigation locks and docking facilities. Within the project, the channel itself was dredged over a length of 3.5 km, a total of 12 navigation locks were created in the Bodrogzug area and a total of 4 classification docking facilities were created on the Hungarian section of the Bodrog River along with 4 more on the Laborec River and on the Slovak section of the Bodrog River. These facilities have been integrated into the nationwide network of docking facilities being built by the Hungarian Canoeing Association. Other work included the construction of cycling and horseback riding trails totalling more than 32 km on the Hungarian side and 12 km in Slovakia. A total of 14 towers were constructed on these trails for bird watching, with 10 shelters and rest areas for riders, log tables and benches, and more than 20 fire pits and approximately 100 information and direction signs, which help improve the experience for visitors to these areas rich in natural treasures. Visitors have the opportunity to learn more and gain new experiences at the 5 newly-opened information and presentation centres. A small fishing exhibition was created at one centre in the village of Zalkod, supplemented by an active presentation of the craft of fishing, with the aim of presenting one of the crafts with the longest history in Medzibodrožie, so that visitors can try fishing on their own. The renovated building in the village of Zalkod, located on the banks of the Zsaró-ér stream, provides visitors and participants in water tours with a camp (yurts, firepits, and outdoor games), as well as hygienic facilities and social areas. Medzibodrožie preserved its lifestyle from the time of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin until the end of the 19th century, as well as natural values, and traditional crafts associated with the richness of natural resources, including fishing and bee-keeping. The new memorial folk house created in the village of Oborín in Slovakia represents a traditional way of fishing, and it is also the starting point of a short and long educational trail created within the project. The bee-keeping exhibit and the therapeutic services centre created in the village of Szegi on the bank of the Bodrog River presents the ancient craft of bee-keeping to visitors and the ability to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits provided by bees. The aim of the exhibition is to broaden the horizons of visitors (especially pupils and students) in the field of bee-keeping, to break down prejudices associated with bees, and to popularise healthy honey produced in Hungary under natural conditions. The therapeutic application of beehive air is one of the methods used for the natural treatment of respiratory diseases and allergies and this is an option available at the centre. The memorial folk house of the Long Forest near Nové mesto pod Šiatrom will be the starting point for water, cycling and riding tours, along with field trip activities for visitors - pupils and students. The memorial folk house, located in the Long Forest protected landscape area is 100 m from the Bodrog River and is a perfect starting point for a range of organised tours (cycling, horseback riding, or walking). The educational and visitor centre created in the centre of the town of Blatný potok awaits visitors with a comprehensive interactive exhibition on nature protection. Exhibited objects, interactive elements and various digital means present the tourist and natural attractions of the local area. The complexity of the project is also reflected in the fact that it operates purchased items, including bicycles, boats and watercraft, and several partners, specifically tourism service providers, were involved in the renovation of the real estate. Anyone interested in tours in the Bodrogzug area and about the tourism and natural values in the region have ample information available to them in Hungarian, Slovak and English on the portal which was also completely refreshed within the project: bodrogzug.hu.

6, Tangible outcomes: The documents, attachments, reports, communication materials created in the course of the project. (technical supervisor report, summary of material and spiritual produts to the reports). 1, null. 2, null. 3, Tangible outcomes: HUN: The performance of 6 public procurement procedures (structural engineering construction, water route reconstruction, PR, equipment procurement, product improvement and infrastructure improvement); SK: 1 single-rate public procurement service for the duration of the project. 12, Tangible outcomes: Construction plan documentations: 5 buildings (Zalkod, Szegi, Sárospatak,Long erdő, Oborín) 1 river bed reconstruction, 1 nature trail plan (Oborín). 4, Tangible outcomes: The reconstruction of 5 buildings and 3,515 km channels. 5, Tangible outcomes: 2 pieces technical supervisor report (deep and high architechture), 1 each. 7, Tangible outcomes: 3 Studies: data base, action plan in Hungarian language, electronical format, 100-150 pages, subject of these: market exploration, tourism product development, implementing organizations - cooperating partners, infrastructure, marketing strategy and action plan, business plan, financial plan. 8, Tangible outcomes: 4 real-estate properties purchased for the purpose of establishing visitor centers and exhibition areas. 9, Tangible outcomes: The devices are in the budget description. 13, Tangible outcomes: 8 workshops: 4 HU, 4 SK, invited groups: local governments, turistical agency, local NGOs, service providers. 10, Tangible outcomes: Contracts and other legal documents: sales contract: 3 pieces, agreement with real estate owners: 7 pieces, cooperation contract with prospective operators: 7pieces. 11, Tangible outcomes: 1 renewed web-based registration interface, 1 mobile application system with several modules.