Fourth Stakeholders meeting within DETOCS in Bulgaria

On the 21st of November 2024, the Fourth Stakeholder Meeting under the DETOCS project – “DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support” took place in the Council Chamber of Burgas Municipality, coinciding with a session of the Advisory Council on Tourism to the Mayor of Burgas Municipality.

The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of public administrations such as Burgas Municipality, municipal enterprises, and the standing committees on “Tourism,” “Science, Innovation, and Operational Programs,” and “International Cooperation and Civil Society Relations.” Also present were the leaders of the Burgas Regional Tourist Chamber, the Burgas Regional Tourist Association, and the Bulgarian Association for Climatic Treatment and Health Tourism, as well as representatives from the State Enterprise “Port Infrastructure,” Burgas Airport, Aleko Konstantinov College of Tourism, and the non-governmental sector. The Regional Energy Agency of Pazardzhik (REAP), a technical partner of the project, participated in the event online.

During the meeting, the main objectives and progress of the DETOCS Project were presented. Experts from Burgas Municipality introduced participants to the Long-Term Program for Promoting the Use of Renewable Energy Sources and Biofuels for the period 2021–2030, which is set to be updated within the scope of the project.

Additionally, impressions and best practices from visited tourist sites in the region of Chania, Crete, Greece, where energy-efficient solutions have been implemented, were shared. Bulgarian partners discussed with attendees the possibilities of adapting similar approaches to local conditions, fostering integrated green tourism in urban and tourist zones.

The meeting laid the groundwork for strengthening cooperation and implementing energy-efficient and sustainable practices in the tourism sector.