Over 70 participants partners of the Thematic Projects and local and regional institutions in Varna actively engage in the 3rd Joint Annual Forum of the Sustainable Tourism Mission that included the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs
Varna (Bulgaria) hosted the 3rd Joint Annual Forum of the Sustainable Tourism Mission, bringing together key stakeholders from across the Euro-MED region. The event, organized by the Interreg Euro-MED Dialogue4Tourism and Community4Tourism Projects, focused on fostering a circular economy in tourism, promoting sustainability, and enhancing regional cooperation.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks from Ms. Snezhana Apostolova, Deputy Mayor of Varna, on behalf of the Dialogue4Tourism Project -organiser institution on-site-, emphasizing the city’s commitment to sustainable tourism development and its role as a hub for regional collaboration. Ms. Sophie Scarvellis, representing the Interreg Euro-MED Program Joint Secretariat, and Ms. Nathalie Clauter from UNIMED on behalf of the Community4Tourism Project, highlighted the importance of transnational governance and shared knowledge across the Mediterranean.
One of the central elements of the forum was the Sustainable Tourism Policy Labs -offered by ASCAME (Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry, project partner of Dialogue4Tourism Project), designed as interactive capacity-building sessions to equip policymakers, tourism managers, and local stakeholders with practical tools and best practice cases from the Thematic Projects of the Sustainable Tourism Mission. During these labs, participants engaged in roundtables and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange to explore how their results and achievements can be effectively integrated into tourism governance.
The labs provided a platform for stakeholders from Varna and the wider Mediterranean region to share these successful initiatives. The labs also emphasized data-driven decision-making, promoting the use of innovation to monitor sustainability indicators and support policy implementation at regional and local levels.
Over 70 participants from the Thematic Projects, public authorities, tourism associations and local SMEs attended the forum, reflecting the broad engagement of stakeholders in the Black Sea area.
A key highlight was the policy debate on circular economy for tourism, moderated by Mr. Ioannis Mardikis from EPLO (European Public Law Organisation, Greece. Project partner of Dialogue4Tourism Project) Panelists included Dr. Ornela Çuçi, former Albanian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment; Ms. Todorka Atanasova from the Varna Economic Development Agency; Mr. Ioannis Pappas, CEO of Green Evolution; and Ms. Mariana Ivanova from UBBSLA (Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities). Discussions focused on integrating circular principles into tourism governance and boosting institutional coordination, emphasizing the role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in shaping sustainable tourism strategies. Panelists highlighted the need for long-term financing and the need to shift from a traditional linear approach to a circular mentality, ensuring that resource management in tourism can support the sustainability and resilience of tourism in the Euro-MED region.
The forum underscored the active engagement of Varna’s local institutions in driving sustainable tourism initiatives, positioning this Bulgarian city and its sustainable tourism ecosystem as a key player in the Euro-MED region.
