Exploring technological innovation and workforce collaboration in the tourism sector

On June 27, 2023, a Business Council meeting was held in Cafe Aparto, Kavala, organized by the association "Development of culture tourism environment" - DE. CU.T.E. under the project "Business Council - BC 6275", funded by the INTERREG V/A GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020 Programme, Subsidy contract №B6.3a.18/13.04.2021. Led by Ms. Zervaki, the meeting delved deeper into the integration of new technologies and workforce collaboration as strategies to improve the tourism sector. Attendees discussed implementing innovative technologies to create new customer experiences and explored opportunities to collaborate with Bulgaria to address labor shortages.

The meeting was attended by seven people on site and five online. Ms. Zervaki led discussions on using new technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and mobile apps to create immersive and personalized experiences for tourists. Participants explored innovative solutions to increase customer engagement and satisfaction.

Attendees highlighted challenges related to labour shortages in the tourism sector, including a lack of skilled staff and seasonal fluctuations in employment. Ms. Zervaki moderated discussions on potential strategies to address these challenges, including workforce training and cooperation with Bulgaria on worker exchanges.

The session focused on the potential benefits of cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria to address common challenges in the tourism sector. Participants discussed the possibility of exchanging workers to fill vacancies as well as sharing best practices and resources to enhance the overall competitiveness of the tourism industries of both countries.

Ms Zervaki reiterated the importance of networking and knowledge sharing within the project. Participants explored opportunities for cross-border cooperation, joint initiatives and collaborative projects aimed at stimulating innovation and growth in the tourism sector.

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