The final dissemination conference of project HELIX was held on July 2nd, 2019, in Volos. The event was hosted by the Department of Planning and Regional Development with the University of Thessaly. The project partner organizations from Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia also took part.

The main purpose of the conference was to publicize the achievements and deliverables of the project as well as its impact on the partner organizations and their communities. The choice of venue was deliberate – although tourism plays a key role in all Balkan-Mediterranean economies, it contributes most to employment and gross capital investments in Greece. Accordingly, the issue of raising vocational competencies in support of managerial and technological innovations towards sustainability is particularly relevant for the national and regional audience.

The President of the University of Thessaly – Prof. Dr. Aristeidis Sapunakis – inaugurated the event. The agenda included also keynote presentations on experiential tourism, destination brand management and alternative forms of tourism. An open workshop ensued in the afternoon to explore the prospects for international cooperation on sustainable tourism between the Balkan-Mediterranean countries.

HELIX final dissemination conference was attended by more than 55 local stakeholders – students and trainers in tourism, managers and staff of small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector, branch organizations and many other people working in the hospitality sector or for its benefit.

The event was part of the activity programme of “Entrepreneurial Learning Exchange Initiative for Sustainable Hospitality SMEs in the Balkan-Mediterranean RegionContract NoBMP1/1.3/2616/2017, co-funded by the European Union and the National Funds of the participating countries.

By Admin