Beyond Borders – Introducing Smart Tourism and Sharing Economy

Project funding	EU
Project website	http://www.ldastruga.org/makedonski
Programme website	North Macedonia – Albania
Contribution to the Programme’s specific objective	The potential of tourism is developed by promoting cultural heritage and values
Project start date	01.12.2017
Project end date	31.08.2020
Project total budget	EUR 304.054,00
Project EU funding	EUR 258.445.90

Project Description

Description	Main goal: To introduce smart tourism and sharing economy concept based on more innovative and efficient use of endogenous cultural and natural resources and existing human capital Key objectives: – To stimulate usage of ICT technology in tourism sector and adapt current business models to fit to latest trends; – To strengthen tourism sector in the region going beyond administrative borders and enable networking among tourism key stakeholders; – To enhance the position of tourism industry as borderless driver of economic development for cross-border communities; – To deepen cooperation among communities on business, social and personal level by creating joint tourism niches between the municipalities in the cross-border region (Mat, Diber, Bulqize, Klos, Debar and Ohrid Lake Region). Main activities: 1. Research- analysis, interviews, benchmarking, survey. Data sourcing-standards, reports, strategies, questionnaires, focus groups. 2. Training-tailor made programs and tools, needs assessments, publications, awareness raising campaigns, infrastructure rehabilitation. 3. Design and brand creation, technical development of software online platform, technical development of mobile apps, designing and building digital interactive infrastructure such as physical info posts and other gadgets, training and education of users. 4. Engaging travel bloggers, marketing and growth strategy.
Achievements in english	Summary of the achieved results: 1. Created 5 questionnaires analyzing different aspects in cross border tourism; 2. Created database with 437 stakeholders; 3. Organized 6 focus groups with municipalities Ohrid, Vevcani, Debar, Struga, Mat, Diber and Buqize; 4. Created 8 studies on sustainable tourism; cultural and natural heritage in CBC region; supply of available tourist services and tourist potential in CBC region; profile of domestic and international tourists in CBC region; tourism market segmentation and profiling tourism segments in CBC region; on stakeholder collaboration and benchmarking analyses; SWOT analyses and review of national level documents; Benchmarking European Tourism- tourism trends and prospects; 5. Reached 1800 stakeholders, directly and indirectly involved in the project activities; identified 25 single tourism experiences in the region; and organized 4 two-day educational programs on tourism related topics with 133 people.
Expected outputs	N/A

Description

Main goal: To introduce smart tourism and sharing economy concept based on more innovative and efficient use of endogenous cultural and natural resources and existing human capital

Key objectives:
– To stimulate usage of ICT technology in tourism sector and adapt current business models to fit to latest trends;
– To strengthen tourism sector in the region going beyond administrative borders and enable networking among tourism key stakeholders;
– To enhance the position of tourism industry as borderless driver of economic development for cross-border communities;
– To deepen cooperation among communities on business, social and personal level by creating joint tourism niches between the municipalities in the cross-border region (Mat, Diber, Bulqize, Klos, Debar and Ohrid Lake Region).

Main activities:
1. Research- analysis, interviews, benchmarking, survey. Data sourcing-standards, reports, strategies, questionnaires, focus groups.
2. Training-tailor made programs and tools, needs assessments, publications, awareness raising campaigns, infrastructure rehabilitation.
3. Design and brand creation, technical development of software online platform, technical development of mobile apps, designing and building digital interactive infrastructure such as physical info posts and other gadgets, training and education of users.
4. Engaging travel bloggers, marketing and growth strategy.

Achievements in english

Summary of the achieved results:
1. Created 5 questionnaires analyzing different aspects in cross border tourism;
2. Created database with 437 stakeholders;
3. Organized 6 focus groups with municipalities Ohrid, Vevcani, Debar, Struga, Mat, Diber and Buqize;
4. Created 8 studies on sustainable tourism; cultural and natural heritage in CBC region; supply of available tourist services and tourist potential in CBC region; profile of domestic and international tourists in CBC region; tourism market segmentation and profiling tourism segments in CBC region; on stakeholder collaboration and benchmarking analyses; SWOT analyses and review of national level documents; Benchmarking European Tourism- tourism trends and prospects;
5. Reached 1800 stakeholders, directly and indirectly involved in the project activities; identified 25 single tourism experiences in the region; and organized 4 two-day educational programs on tourism related topics with 133 people.

Expected outputs

N/A

Partners Type

Lead partner	Institution name: CSO Local Agency for Development Country: North Macedonia Address: Dimce Kovacevski 30/2, 6330 Struga Website: www.ldastruga.org Legal status: Private
Partner	Institution name: Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy Country: North Macedonia Address: Drezdenska 52, 1000 Skopje Website: www.iege.edu.mk Legal status: Public
Partner	Institution name: Biologist of Albania Country: Albania Address: Ismail Qemali, Pallati 2K, Nr. 25 /c, Tirana Website: www.biologet-al.com Legal status: Public
Partner	Institution name: Mat municipality Country: Albania Address: Sheshi ‘’Ahmet Zogu”, nr .1, Burrel Website: www.bashkiamat.gov.al Legal status: Public