In the period 13–16 October 2025, the fifth interregional meeting and study visit of the project “TOURBO – Boosting the transition pathway of MSMEs in tourism with green and digital transformation”, funded under the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 Programme, took place in Donegal, Ireland.
Ms. Svetlana Borisova, International Cooperation Expert and Communication Manager of the project, took part in the meeting on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa. From the stakeholder group, participants included Ms. Maria Doncheva-Petkova, Chairperson of the Board of the Association “Kinigini”, as well as Ms. Silia Ivanova, representative of the Regional Administration – Vratsa, an associated partner in the project.
The project runs until mid-2027 and aims to establish a stable and progressive framework for integrating a sustainable tourism sector into local and regional policies, with a particular focus on supporting MSMEs in their transition toward smart and green transformation through the quadruple-helix approach.
The partnership consists of 8 partners from Spain, Finland, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Germany, Croatia and Ireland, with the Seville Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation (Spain) acting as Lead Partner.
The event was hosted by Donegal County Council, Ireland, and brought together partners and stakeholders from all participating countries. During the two-day programme, the participants were introduced to successful practices in the field of sustainable and digital tourism in the Donegal region.
Throughout the visit, several examples were showcased demonstrating how sustainable principles can be integrated into small businesses and tourism services. One of the highlights was the visit to Blue Goat – Ramelton, a small family-run business built on the philosophy of sustainability, applying circular economy principles, using local products, and implementing digital solutions to enhance customer communication.
At Rathmullan Country House, participants attended thematic presentations by Donegal Tourism, Fáilte Ireland and Atlantic Technological University, focused on destination management, reducing carbon footprint, and the use of technology to support sustainable tourism development.
Special attention was given to the visit to Fanad Lighthouse, where innovative approaches were presented for combining cultural heritage with digitalisation through virtual reality experiences (VR) and sustainable energy practices.
The programme also included visits to Oideas Gael – an organisation promoting the Irish language and traditions through the concept of slow tourism, as well as Rockhill House, a sustainable tourism site combining hospitality services, nature conservation activities and beekeeping.
The event concluded with discussions on future steps for tourism development and the implementation of sustainable and digital solutions in the sector.
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