Prespa Tri-lateral Tourism Development Planning Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

Prespa Tri-lateral Tourism Development Planning
Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

24 October 2008 (0900-1700)

Hotel Epinal, Bitola

Organised by: The UNDP-GEF Prespa Regional Project

Currently, a range of tourism initiatives at differing scales/magnitudes are implemented by

various actors in the Prespa Region. There is however little evidence of coordination between these players. Most interventions are primarily driven by national development strategies/priorities/policies or opportunities as they arise.

The development and endorsement of a tri-lateral tourism strategy and action plan has been identified as one of the priorities with the UNDP-GEF in support of the tri-lateral Prespa Park initiative to strengthen transboundary cooperation with the Prespa Lakes Basin.

This tri-lateral stakeholder workshop marks the kick-off point for the preparation of the Prespa Park Tri-lateral Tourism Strategy. The Terms of Reference that will be elaborated in this first phase until December shall govern the preparation of the Tourism Strategy in the year 2009.

After approval of the Terms of Reference by the Prespa Park Coordination Committee and UNDP, the Strategy project will be put out on international tender.

The purpose of this stakeholder workshop is to discuss the current “state-of-play” with regard to

tourism priorities and planning in the Prespa region, and to identify tourism opportunities and issues in relation to sustainable tourism development in the Prespa Lakes basin.

It is anticipated that the outcomes of this workshop will prepare the ground for the process of development of a tri-lateral tourism strategy commencing in 2009.

This workshop represents therefore an excellent opportunity to shape tourism development in favor of our local, regional and multilateral interests.

It is anticipated that the participants for this first stakeholder workshop will include:

• Regional Administrations (Economic Development Departments, tourism officers and

or Environmental Departments: environmental officers);

• Representatives from municipalities and communes which have a particular interest in

tourism or concerns about it;

• Environmental agencies concerned;

• NGO’s related to Prespa and perhaps Ohrid Lake;

• Other donor organizations involved in Prespa tourism development issues;

• Tourism Associations and agencies;

• Selected hotels, and guest houses, ecotourism operators or similar

Anticipated number of participants: 25-30.