Seventh Stakeholders Meeting in Bulgaria under the DETOCS project

On 11 August 2026, the seventh stakeholders meeting under the DETOCS project (DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support), funded by the Interreg Europe programme, was organized by the Regional Energy Agency of Pazardjik (REAP) in the picturesque town of Strelcha, Bulgaria.

The event brought together representatives of various professional organisations and stakeholders from the tourism sector, including hoteliers and cultural institutions, as well as representatives of public administrations, environmental organisations and energy agencies. The other Bulgarian project partner, Burgas Municipality, joined the meeting online.

The main objective of the meeting was to present the lessons learned from the implementation of the DETOCS project in Bulgaria, discuss the challenges faced by the tourism sector in its transition towards a low-carbon and more sustainable model, and outline the next steps for supporting local stakeholders in adopting green practices.

During the meeting, REAP presented an Action Plan developed to support the implementation of practical measures aimed at accelerating the green transition of the tourism sector in the Municipality of Burgas. An important element of the Action Plan is the organisation of training sessions for tourism stakeholders. These sessions will focus on improving energy efficiency and tourism infrastructure, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and encouraging low-carbon tourism practices, as well as providing guidance on financing opportunities, energy management and planning for the green transition.

Training materials covering these areas have already been developed with the aim of providing practical and accessible guidance to tourism businesses and other relevant stakeholders. The training activities will be delivered through a series of in-person meetings jointly organised by the two Bulgarian project partners, Burgas Municipality and the Regional Energy Agency of Pazardjik.

Through these activities, the project aims to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of tourism stakeholders and help them identify practical opportunities to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions and access suitable financing opportunities for green investments. In this way, the DETOCS project seeks to provide practical support to the tourism sector and contribute to the development of a more sustainable, resilient and competitive tourism industry in Bulgaria.

The meeting concluded by highlighting the importance of maintaining continuous dialogue and cooperation between local authorities, businesses and other stakeholders. Such collaboration will be essential for the successful implementation of the Action Plan and for ensuring the long-term impact of the DETOCS project in Bulgaria.