MAIN OBJECTIVE: Adaptation of vocational education and training to the needs of the labour market in the tourism sector, in the context of compliance with the principles of the European Green Pact, by transforming the sector into a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly economy.

This objective will be achieved through cooperation between non-profit organizations from Bulgaria and Italy, engaged in the field of vocational education and training and helping students and young people to adapt to the changing conditions of the labor market. The project implementation includes the partnership support of:

• Professional High School of Tourism "Aleko Konstantinov" gr. Yambol, whose students will be our direct target group.
• COSVITEC - Naples, Italy

Specific objectives focus on:

• building the capacity of tourism vocational teachers through exchange of experience, training and participatory observation, following the example of Italy
• Analysing the attitudes of business, consumers and learners towards the implementation of modern environmentally friendly, sustainable and responsible practices in tourism and related services
• promotion and implementation in the educational process of innovative tools for responsible social, ecological and respectful attitude to nature and its resources.

The Green Explorers project directly targets a total of 85 persons from the target group who will be directly involved in the activities. These are:

• 13 experts/representatives of the partner organizations - experts and employees in the partner NGOs, director, deputy directors and teachers from the school "Aleko Konstantinov" in Sofia. Yambol. Their role in the project implementation is key to achieving the set objectives. They will study and analyse the applied green practices in the field of tourism services at European level, upgrade their skills and capacities to be able to successfully approbate and apply these models in the practical training of students. They will develop training workshops as an informal method to put new skills into practice and improve the quality of vocational education.
• 72 students (4 groups of 18 persons) from the "Aleko Konstantinov" secondary school in the town of. "Hotel Organization" and "Catering". They will be directly involved in the implementation of activity 4. for testing the innovative models for the application of sustainable green practices in the practical tourism training. Participation in the seminars will be on a voluntary basis, avoiding all forms of discrimination. Students from vulnerable groups and children with special needs will be included.
• In addition to them as an indirect target group will be attracted the rest of the high school students, who will be directly and indirectly involved in the project implementation through various channels of communication - publications on the school website, social media, sharing information and knowledge among the students themselves and the practical application of innovative green practices not only in the planned workshops, but as informal forms of learning.

Activities:

1. Study of European green practices in tourism
2. Analysis of attitudes in Bulgaria towards the implementation of green policies and instruments in the field of tourism services
3. Exchange of experience between partners
4. Approval and dissemination of project results

Expected results

• Study of good European practices in the field of tourism service provision and environmental protection
• Report on attitudes in Bulgaria towards the implementation of green policies
• Training conducted
• Capacity building of partner organisations
• Approval and implementation of innovative "green" practices in the learning process
• Seminars held with students from Yambol
• Creating the conditions for transformation and change (at individual, organisational and sector level)

Activities 1

Study of European green practices in tourism

The main objective of the activity is to collect, research and systematize information on successfully implemented green practices in the European Union to achieve sustainable and responsible tourism. The study was carried out entirely online by experts from the REC and the Italian partner COSVITEC. Through the research, innovative approaches for implementing and adapting foreign environmental practices at local level have been identified.

The methods of energy efficiency, conservation of natural resources, applied environmentally friendly way of recreation, tourism and rest, minimization of waste, recycling processes and reuse of various resources are studied. The regulatory constraints and incentives in different countries for limiting human impact on the environment, preservation of cultural heritage, conservation of tourist sites, their nature, natural environment and habitat of flora and fauna in different European countries and regions are studied.

The expert team prepared summary report, which gives direction to the follow-up activities of the project and the future work of the partners in adapting, implementing and updating the teaching and learning activities in the field of vocational education and training. The sharing and dissemination of good practices is a prerequisite for building systematic habits and changing the behaviour of adolescents, and in the long term will improve the quality of life.

SEE REPORT

Activities 2

Analysis of attitudes in Bulgaria towards the implementation of green policies and instruments in the field of tourism services

Conduct of online poll on "The application of green practices in tourism, hospitality and catering".

The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes at local level in Bulgaria for the implementation of modern environmental practices in the field of tourism that are in line with the Green Pact and the European values for sustainable living and ensuring a favourable living environment for future generations.

The empirical survey was conducted online and focused on to economically active Bulgarian citizenswho are current or future users of tourism, hospitality and catering services.

The study answers the following questions:

• what is the current situation in Bulgaria in terms of awareness and applicability of green practices in tourism
• analysis of public attitudes towards the implementation of innovative green practices, following the example of European countries, and identification of guidelines for development
• analysis of the factors that influence the subjective attitude of respondents and that will contribute to our more responsible attitude as citizens and users of natural resources.

SEE REPORT

Activities 3

Exchange of experience between partners

The aim of the specific activity is to increase the capacity of the partners in terms of knowledge and application of innovative methods, best practices and specific service techniques in the tourism business.

Working visit to Bulgaria

15.06.2023 - 18.06.2023

 Welcome at the REC office. Presentations of the project activities implemented so far:

• Online survey on European green tourism practices
• Application of green practices in the tourism, hotel and restaurant sector in Bulgaria

Visit the International Business School.

Address. "7 Vincent van Gogh

Topics for discussion:

• brief presentation of the International Business School, Bulgaria - facilities, specialties
• short presentation of Cosvitec, Italy
• the attitudes of businesses and learners towards the implementation of modern environmentally friendly, sustainable and responsible practices in the field of tourism and related services - Bulgaria and Italy
• introducing in the educational process innovative tools for responsible social, ecological and respectful attitude towards nature and its resources - Bulgaria and Italy

Working visit to Italy

07.09.2023 - 13.09.2023

 Working visit to Naples 8 teachers from the "Aleko Konstanitov" secondary school - town of. Yambol and 5 experts from RCEC will visit Italy within 7 days. The host will be Cosvitec.

 The working visit to Italy allowed Bulgarian experts and teachers to learn about the experience of the partner organization. The main objective is to conduct participatory observation and training on the application of environmentally friendly innovative methods and techniques to overcome the problems of pollution, generation of large amounts of waste and harmful substances, pollution, etc. caused and resulting from tourism activities.

The main highlights of the work are:

• the importance of vocational education and training programmes for achieving sustainability in the tourism sector
• the link between the sectors (agri-food, food and wine, tourism and cultural heritage), aggregated with a view to the unified management of tourist flows and the creation of a hospitality chain
• conservation of cultural heritage and natural landscapes for sustainable tourism
• environmental education in Italy
• practical networking: local institutions, local business and media and stakeholders together for sustainable and responsible tourism

Activities 4

Approval and dissemination of project results

Within the framework of this activity innovative "green" methods and tools have been implemented in the VET in tourism in the country.

On the basis of the exchange of experience and the studies made in the previous activities, the teachers from the "Aleko Konstantinov" PGT - town of. The participants of the seminar prepared seminar trainings for their pupils, which presented the ways of application and the effects of the use of "green" practices in the field of tourism services. The aim of this activity is to put into practice innovative approaches, adapted to the Bulgarian reality, to the processes of vocational education and training and to be presented in an appropriate way for easier assimilation and adoption.

 The direct target group were in total 75 students from PGT "Aleko Konstantinov" - gr. Yambol, including representatives of vulnerable groups and students with special needs. Participation in the seminars will be on a voluntary basis with no restrictions on gender, age or ethnicity.

 The implementation of the activity will contribute to the achievement of the main objective of the project, namely to increase the quality of the learning process and to promote the advantages and feasibility of "green" measures and tools to ensure sustainable development and conservation of nature, cultural and historical heritage, climate and biodiversity.

The school as an institution with the support of the non-governmental sector have a very important role to play in building and shaping responsible behaviour and attitude towards nature, conservation of goods, ecological and environmentally friendly lifestyle. The application of "green" methods and tools to limit the harmful human impact on nature and the environment is not only a national and European, but also a global strategic goal. Therefore, adapting the researched and even observed practices of European countries regarding environmentally friendly and responsible tourism to VET will contribute to improving the quality of students' practical training. The efforts we are making today to build responsible and conscientious students is an investment in our common future. Improved practical training and awareness will in turn contribute to the environmentally friendly green development of the tourism business in Bulgaria.

Report

Report