PROJECT DETAILS

The main goal of the action is to promote a "lively" tourism sector that effectively adapts to the needs of the domestic and international market and contributes to accelerating growth and stimulating job creation in the cross-border tourist zone between Macedonia and Albania. This main goal is to strengthen the foundations, the general environment and the necessary elements needed for strategic achievement and benefit from the new international markets in the tourism industry and improved communication and cooperation in order to achieve coordinated development of joint cross-border entrepreneurial activities. Key elements that will bring about this change include: (a) strengthened capacities of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises and increased access to markets (b) raising awareness and understanding of the need for a new marketing approach to tourism; (c) an improved environment for information exchange, collaboration, research, and the joint development of marketing products to expand markets outside the local cross-border area; (d) local expertise between private and public entities to develop enabling policies and conformity standards that meet international standards for tourism development; (e) the capacity of SMEs to make effective use of technology to improve their value chain (f) Knowledge and awareness necessary to maintain partnerships and good practices in tourism marketing, as well as a strong network dedicated to promoting the development of cross-border entrepreneurial tourism initiatives. The STEP project will empower private and public entities (SMEs, government agencies, start-ups and individual entrepreneurs) in the tourism sector to contribute to economic growth and stimulate job creation in the cross-border region. Takes into account that there are already small and medium enterprises and public institutions and organizations that have been involved in various initiatives and have expertise in the tourism sector. In addition, the project encourages the creation of new initiatives and opportunities for tourism initiatives, but will also further invest in existing capacities to address current needs, as well as to enrich available expertise. In addition, the project will increase the capacity of SMEs to internationalize their reach in the market and provide them with tools and skills that will enable them to increase tourism supply and demand in the region; and also connect and build new partnerships outside of project completion.