Innovative approach for employment development and stimulation of economic activity in the field of recreation tourism on the territory of Bansko Municipality

Project facts

Project promoter:
ARCO IMOTI Ltd.(BG)
Project Number:
BG-LOCALDEV-0052
Status:
Completed
Final project cost:
€136,317
Donor Project Partners:
K TONE PRODUCTIONS(NO)

More information

Description

The project proposal is in synergy with general objective of the call and is aimed at developing innovative approaches aimed at stimulating economic activity and creating jobs in municipality Bansko. The project reflects the need to activate long-term inactive unemployed in the municipality, stimulate employment through introduction of innovative approaches in business development, and is in sync with local development strategy of Bansko, aimed at establishing Bansko as a year-round tourist destination. The project will contribute to solving the identified in employment rate problems, namely high levels of unemployment ,which in August 2022 are equal to 5.57%, with average values ​​​​for the country of 4.7%. To implement the project, the applicant has foreseen the implementation of measures in 3 specific categories of activities, including: Publicity, organization and management; Creation of jobs, training and mentoring of newly appointed employees; Delivery of office equipment and furnishings; Development of innovative approaches for providing information about jobs and holding meetings between employers and job seekers; Organization of trainings for employers; Exchange of good practices with the partner from Norway.

Summary of project results

The challenges that were addressed with the current project were related to the provision of sustainable employment in Bansko municipality and the need to open a new company office on the territory of the resort town. Another challenge identified by the Arco properties team was the need to establish Bansko as year-round tourist destination, by stimulating the economic activity, through the implementation of innovative approaches and creation of new jobs.

The implementation of the current project proposal included the following activities: Five new jobs were opened in the town, ensuring employment for 12 months for the newly employed people, as well as subsequent job sustainability for six months; New equipment, furnishing and software were provided for the new jobs were; Bansko municipality was confirmed as a year-round tourist destination destination attracting new investors; Innovative approaches to providing job information were implemented; Digital platform for remote inspections of vacation properties was developed; Trainings were implemented to increase the employers'' capacity and conduct meetings with unemployed persons; Activities were carried out for exchange of experience and good practices with the partner organization from the Kingdom of Norway.

Through the implementation of the project, prerequisites were created for the activation of long-term inactive persons and providing training for them. Investments were encouraged in innovative approaches for the development of local employment, through which conditions were created for attracting new investments in the field of year-round tourism in Bansko municipality. Competitiveness and the capacity of local employers were enhanced by organizing meetings between employers and job seekers and creating employment opportunities for people in disadvantaged position. Sustainable partnerships were established with organization from the donor states.

Summary of bilateral results

Workshops for the exchange of experience were organized and held by the partner in Norway, where experience and knowledge in the area were exchanged.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.