The workshop, organized by the Health Prevention Foundation from Blagoevgrad and the Center for Development of the Third Northeast Planning Region in the Republic of Northern Macedonia, took place between 3 and 7 November 2020. The initiative was part of a project entitled “Youth from Bulgaria and Macedonia together for health prevention ”with reference number № CB006.2.23.116 under the Cross-border Cooperation Program Interreg-IPA Bulgaria-Northern Macedonia.

The workshop was attended by children aged 7 to 19, who learned about important details about tourism, health prevention and the opportunities provided by the rich and diverse resources that the cross-border region offers in the field of spa and wellness. In their work they were guided and assisted by an expert in the development of tourist products with extensive practical and academic experience.

Among the expert’s responsibilities was to summarize the ideas and suggestions received from the children participating in the workshop, with a view to developing a comprehensive tourism product covering the regions on both sides of the border. This tourist product will contribute to the overall development of the tourist capacity for health prevention, development of health, spa and wellness and sports tourism for the target regions of the two countries.

The finished tourism product resulting from this youth initiative will be presented to stakeholders (local and regional authorities, business and the non-governmental sector) in the framework of public events to be held on both sides of the border.