KOOP AT-BG Seminar, March 10-11, Smolyan

On March 10-11, 2011 the Bulgarian-German Centre for Professional Training in the City of Smolyan hosted a seminar on the topic “Tourism as a Relevant Factor for Employment Policy in Bulgaria and Austria - Demand Assessment, Provision and Qualification of Employees in the Context of Regional Characteristics”.

The event, which took place at the newly built Bulgarian-German Centre for Professional Training of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, was attended by numerous experts from the participating ministries and national agencies, by representatives of the social partners as well as by representatives of the regional administration and the tourist sector.

First and foremost, the two-day seminar elaborated on the significance of tourism for the labor market policy, the economic and regional policies of Austria and Bulgaria as well as on labour demand and possibilities for improving the qualification of workers in the tourist sector. Alongside that, a series of examples of good practices were presented, which shed light on completed projects and opportunities for training in the two countries.

The event provided the participants with an opportunity to engage in an active discussion and facilitated the exchange of expertise and experience. A tour of the Centre for Professional Training was also included in the workshop.