In March 2025, Varna University of Management (VUM) organized a series of pilot training sessions introducing students to various topics and digital platforms related to participatory planning in tourism destination development. These activities are part of the international project DEMo4PPL – Digital Education Modules 4 Participatory Planning, supported by the Erasmus+ programme. The project aims to develop and test an innovative interdisciplinary modular curriculum, along with adaptable learning materials and resources suitable for various levels and fields of higher education.
On 18 March 2025, students from the programmes in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, International Hospitality Management and Hospitality and Culinary Arts worked on a real case study focused on tourism management in the city of Nessebar – a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing key challenges such as overcrowding, low levels of digitalization, low-value mass tourism, insufficient innovation in hotel services, and limited involvement of local businesses in planning. Students used a digital platform for strategic planning, progressing through four main phases: identifying problems, selecting solutions, creating action plans, and evaluating outcomes. Working in teams with clearly defined roles, they proposed innovative ideas and sustainable business strategies combining technological innovation with local cultural identity.
On 19 March 2025, students from the Software Engineering programme focused on developing concepts for digital tools that support participatory planning in tourism. They explored user needs, analysed usage scenarios, and proposed functionalities to improve transparency and efficiency in tourism destination management.
DEMo4PPL is a joint initiative between the University of Thessaly (Greece), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), Varna University of Management (Bulgaria), University of Lodz (Poland), and the Hellenic Association of Urban and Regional Planners (SEMPXPA).
