Project funding EU
Project website N/A
Programme website North Macedonia – Albania
Contribution to the Programme’s specific objective The SME productive capacity and access to markets are strenghtened
Project start date 01.01.2018
Project end date 30.4.2021
Project total budget EUR 389.028,69
Project EU funding EUR 330.674,39

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

Lead partner Institution name: EuroPartners Development
Country: Albania
Address: Rr. Ismail Qemali P.18, K.5, Nr.25/A 1019 Tirana
Website: www.europartners.al
Legal status: Private
Partner Institution name: National Agency of Scientific Research and Innovation (ARTI)
Country: Albania
Address: “Papa Gjon Pali II”, Str. Nr. 3 Tirana
Website: www.nasri.gov.al
Legal status: Public
Partner Institution name: Fund for Innovations and Technology Development (FITD)
Country: North Macedonia
Address: Macedonian Radio Television, 20th Floor, Bul: Goce Delchev bb Skopje
Website: www.fitr.mk
Legal status: Private
Partner Institution name: National Centre for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL)
Country: North Macedonia
Address: Bul: “8-mi Septemvri” 2-9 1000 Skopje
Website: www.ncdiel.mk
Legal status: N/A