Exchange of Experience Event in Burgas, Bulgaria, within the frame of the DETOCS project
On 8-9 October 2025, the project consortium and stakeholders of the Interreg Europe DETOCS – DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support project gathered at the Municipality of Burgas, Bulgaria, for the 6th Interregional Exchange of Experience Event & Steering Group Meeting. Representatives from the eight partner regions convened to exchange best practices, discuss progress, and explore collaborative actions for decarbonising the tourism sector.
On the first working day, the event started with a welcome speech by the hosting partners, the Municipality of Burgas. The event continued with a Steering Committee meeting and a moderated session on challenges in policy improvements. Insightful presentations on regional success stories, highlighting innovative approaches to energy efficiency and decarbonization in tourism, were featured during the meeting. The communication activities and upcoming events of the project were also discussed.
The hosting partners organised a Study Visit to the Energy Community in Burgas. This community is launched by the municipality and managed by citizens, aiming to make the transition to carbon-neutral energy. One of the first objectives is the construction of a photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of approximately 420 kWp on the roof of the swimming sports complex, with over 85% of the energy produced being consumed on site by the complex. The participants visited the Energy Office of Burgas to explore how energy communities can drive local climate action. This office is a contact point of Burgas Municipality for citizens and businesses on issues related to energy efficiency, renewable energy sources (RES), and Burgas’ policies in the field of energy efficiency and RES.
The Study visits on the second working day provided participants with a first-hand look at sustainable tourism practices in the region. One of the places that participants visited was a fishing village called Chengene Skele. Here they could watch demonstrations of net weaving, rope braiding and sea knots, taste traditional foods and learn about local beliefs and legends. The partners also had the opportunity to visit the solar-powered tourist catamaran “Burgus”. This tourist boat demonstrates a good mixture of low-carbon transport and sustainable tourism: by integrating solar energy into a hybrid vessel, the municipality has cut diesel use and CO₂ emissions while also strengthening the municipality’s image as a green destination.
By fostering knowledge exchange and cross-regional cooperation, the 6th Exchange of Experience Event strengthened the DETOCS project’s mission to support the tourism sector’s green transition.
