On 9 February 2026, the Municipality of Pomorie, together with the National Association of the Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, organised its Local Mobilisation Workshop for the RECIRCLE MED project, marking a significant step towards sustainable tourism development in the Black Sea region.
Held at the Municipality Hall, the workshop gathered representatives from municipal authorities, NGOs, local businesses, port and museum authorities, and active community groups.
Institutional Opening
The Mayor of Pomorie, Mr. Ivan Aleksiev, opened the workshop by highlighting tourism as a key driver of the local economy, closely linked to coastal ecosystems, fisheries, and cultural heritage. He stressed that participation in RECIRCLE MED provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen existing practices and develop tourism in a sustainable and forward-looking way.
The strong presence of municipal leadership and experts demonstrated Pomorie’s commitment to integrating environmental protection with economic development.
Introducing RECIRCLE MED
Ms. Marusya Tsvetkova, Senior Expert “Institutional Projects” from the National Association of the Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), presented the concept and objectives of the RECIRCLE MED project.
She also outlined the main objectives of the project at local level, adapting the tool to the specific needs of Pomorie, identifying institutional and technical challenges, raising awareness of blue and circular tourism and actively involving stakeholders in the process of co-creating solutions.
The Blueprint for Blue Action Plans for Circular Tourism
Ms. Tonia Koutsopoulou (University of Thessaly, Greece), presented the RECIRCLE MED Blueprint, the project’s practical tool for coastal and Mediterranean destinations, to meet the real needs of municipalities such as Pomorie.
She explained the structure and logic of the tool, based on an integrated approach combining circular and blue economy principles. Special emphasis was placed on the three-step process “data – analysis – action”, enabling municipalities to move from data collection to concrete policies and measures in a structured way.
Existing Initiatives and Future Potential
The workshop highlighted Pomorie’s ongoing efforts in implementing blue and circular economy practices, demonstrating a strong foundation for further development.
Stakeholders identified access to funding, clear policy guidance, and supportive regulatory frameworks as key drivers for the broader adoption of sustainable practices.
Interactive Session: Needs, Priorities & Perspectives
The event included an interactive session where participants engaged in discussions and completed a survey, providing immediate feedback on their understanding of the project and the applicability of the tools presented.
Participants demonstrated a strong overall understanding of blue and circular economy concepts and their benefits. In particular, they showed a solid grasp of the key principles, with growing awareness of how these can be applied within the tourism sector, especially in relation to circular practices.
Stakeholder engagement emerged as the main implementation challenge, highlighting the need to strengthen collaboration and participation.
Closing Remarks
In the final part of the event, Mr. Georgi Petkov, Executive Director of the Local Action Fisher Group in Pomorie, presented the municipality’s experience in implementing blue and circular economy practices.
He outlined Pomorie’s socio-economic profile as the third-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and presented both implemented and ongoing projects, ranging from energy efficiency and resource management to cultural and tourism initiatives aimed at enriching the tourist experience and extending the tourist season.
A Collaborative Path Forward
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to advancing sustainable tourism in Pomorie. The municipality is already actively working with the RECIRCLE MED Blueprint, entering local data and preparing the next steps for developing concrete measures.
The strong engagement of stakeholders, combined with the municipality’s proactive approach, establishes a solid foundation for the successful implementation of blue and circular tourism strategies.
Let’s shape the future of sustainable tourism together!
