THRACIAN HERITAGE IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE – AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE TOURISM PRACTICE

Abstract

The paper aims to analyze the opportunities of preserved cultural and historical sites in the Thracian territories of Bulgaria and Turkey to create an independent cultural corridor "Thracian heritage", which is an alternative to the modern tourist practice. The study is aimed at two Thracian region in Southeastern Europe. 17 objects with anthropogenic character of the Thracians are determined. Of these, 10 are located in Bulgaria and 7 on the territory of Turkey. The index ofo using the sites shows that most of them have conditions to be used in mass tourism practice. Based on the study it is clear that there are objective opportunities - anthropogenic preserved Thracian sites in both neighboring countries to form on their own territory an independent cultural corridor. Its use for the practice of tourism is a direct prolongation of the differentiated ones in the European Union and operating for the purpose of cultural tourism corridors. Different periods of research of Thracian heritage and priorities in the ongoing tourism policies in both countries are the reason for the delay in its practical use. Moreover, some of the objects are found, because of various reasons for contemporaries, only in recent years and have not developed effective schemes for their socialization. Current study developes an original idea - through cultural tourism to remake topical the Orphic practice for spiritual purification, enrichment, expansion of knowledge. An essential aspect of the work is the rediscovery of the functional significance of the symbolism of the emblematic objects and phenomena of Thracian culture in affirming them as a fundamental dominant in the cultural space of Europe.