Prespa2Go - Your personal guide to the untouched beauties of Prespa, on the go!
Hello. We are Prespa2go! Your detailed guide through Prespa, on the go!
Untouched beauty, mysticism and unexplored Prespa, combined in a unique offer, just for you!
Explore the app Prespa2Go and let us guide you there!
Local
North Macedonia
Prespa region
Municipality of Resen
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
ReLOaD: Regional Programme on Local Democracy in Western Balkans
No
Yes
2020-10-01
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Association for Environmental Protection ECO GUERRILLA PRESPA - Resen Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Goce Last name of representative: Rabadzievski Gender: Male Nationality: orth Macedonia If relevant, please select your other nationality: orth Macedonia Function: President Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: St. 29 November number 23 Town: Resen Postal code: 7310 Country: North Macedonia Direct Tel:+389 78 452 586 E-mail:contact@ecogerilaprespa.org.mk Website:http://ecogerilaprespa.org.mk/
The idea for this project, Prespa2Go, was detected after several months of research done in the Prespa region, for the needs of the tourism industry. Taking the fact that Prespa is shared by 3 countries Greece, Albania and North Macedonia, it is located between 2 national parks in North Macedonia, Pelister and Galičica and one from the Greek side Prespa Park, that comes out to the Prespa Lake which is a protected area (Nature Monument) in it is the rare reserve Nature Park Ezerani. The protected area is home to about 200 species of birds, of which 62 species are listed as protected species in accordance with the Bern Convention, and three species are on the European’s Red List of World’s Endangered Species. A characteristic representative of the avian fauna in Prespa Lake is the Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). The pelican is one of the largest birds that exists on water, mainly in warmer regions. We have it only on the two Prespa Lakes. The only colony of the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in the European Union is located in Prespa.
All these attributes of Prespa are a good basis and immense potential for developing local alternative and eco tourism. Prespa2Go is consisted of existing accommodations, local cafeterias, restaurants, bars, etc. 4 new types of tours, motorcycle tour, monastery tour, water tour and bicycle tour. All activities such as opening social media pages for digital marketing and advertising were part of the project itself. The main goal of the project is the promotion of Prespa as a unique tourist destination. We wanted to do that in a different way, with a specially developed concept to network all potential providers of tourist services from Prespa and through e-promotion to make an offer to potential tourists to have Prespa in the palm of their hands through the mobile application. In addition, tourist guides, beekeepers, agro tourism offers from home made food, fishermen and other mini family businesses offering tourist services.
Nature
Rural Tourism
Networking
E-Promotion
Prespa Region
Prespa2Go is maintained on a volunteer basis by Eco Guerrilla Prespa. We have conducted new research and are preparing to expand our concept into digital marketing, which will allow us to generate income and make the application self-sustaining. Finances are crucial at this moment as we are still in the process of building the application. Prespa2Go offers many opportunities for growth and has the potential to generate income.
Some of the new activities we plan to implement include:
Improving the mobile and web applications to expand their reach;
Renting services such as bicycles and kayaks;
Team building activities;
Adding two new adventure tours.
We also plan to improve the application by adding new video and photo materials, and by working with vendors to market traditional homemade food on social media or through the Prespa2Go mobile app.
We are working with regional travel agencies to create a unique 3-day offer for Prespa. Finances are essential for these activities, and we hope that our efforts to promote Prespa as a unique destination for rural tourism will be recognized. This will improve the economic situation of tourist entities and the municipality overall, making tourism a priority economic sector. This will improve the quality of life in the community and encourage young people from the region to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism sector. This will also encourage a sense of belonging and help reduce the emigration of young people from the Prespa region.
With the realization of the Prespa2Go project, we aimed to cover three groups of direct users: accommodation facilities, catering facilities, and other tourist stakeholders, as well as three groups of end users or consumers of the services: tourists, tourism workers, and the local population. In the preparation of the project application, we communicated with all stakeholders and drew up a single document according to their needs and requirements, which served as the basis for creating the concept of Prespa2Go.
Each subject placed on the application and website participated with a representative in the preparation, design, and creation of materials and their own offers. For each subject, we precisely mapped the data that was uploaded to the application and each of them was uploaded with a personally given offer for their services. The Municipality of Resen participated with its relevant representatives in the cultural, historical and church or monastery offers and everything was done in cooperation and according to the legal regulations for their data. All activities are protected by copyright of the subjects.
During the entire implementation of the project, there was a good, positive mood and this is justified by the numbers of new visits after setting up the subjects of the application. All stakeholders are in the mood to continue the cooperation and we are fortunate to have new interested persons, subjects, and family farms that would like to become part of the tourist offer.
All of this could be applied in the context of your call as this is a project that is already showing positive results. By simply continuing or refining the already existing concept, we would only have an even more positive outcome, which we expect will ultimately result in enabling Prespa2Go to ensure its sustainability with the above-mentioned new activities.
The Prespa2Go mobile application and website is an innovative and currently unique model that brings together all tourism stakeholders from Prespa in one place, providing a unique offer for overnight stays to end users, i.e. potential tourists and tourism workers. The key goal is to promote Prespa as a tourist destination and we believe that the electronic version in today's digital age is the most inclusive and accessible way to achieve this. It is extensive in terms of involvement because it has all the key actors for whom it is intended. The application is easy to manage, has a modern and simple design, making it very accessible to anyone who knows how to use a mobile phone or computer.
In addition to the application, we have also created and are quite active on social networks, helping to establish Prespa2Go as a recognized brand in our country. We believe that Prespa2Go is a project with great social impact as it not only acts as an informational tool, but also educates users about the Prespa region. This concept or model is fully compliant with the guidelines set forth in the rulebook, especially in the section covering contribution to the local community.
In order to further increase the productivity of the promotion, we will continue to use our social media presence to reach more people, engage with them and build a community around our brand. Additionally, we are planning to invest in targeted marketing campaigns and collaborations with key influencers to promote our offer to a wider audience. Furthermore, we are working on expanding our service offerings to include more touristic activities and events in the region to make our platform even more attractive to potential visitors.
Citizens are directly involved in our project by being exposed to the application and website with their offers. Local individuals or legal entities are the key tools of the project. Anyone who has an offer or service that promotes the uniqueness of Prespa is a key partner of the project and has been involved from the beginning. They are promoted throughout the season according to a special work plan to make their services or products more visible and accessible to customers.
Through questionnaires, we hear their feedback on our promotion and, for those who are more innovative, we offer training on digital marketing topics to improve their skills in maintaining their social profiles, or trainings on catering to educate them on how to improve their food offerings and service. Their involvement is direct in the development of the application and in its continuity. They contact us directly with new data or products, and we update their application profiles accordingly.
Their involvement has a positive effect on the whole Prespa2Go project, because they are the main actors who feed this platform. The cooperation we have developed in the past years reflects positively on the whole project. The project is sustainable only if all stakeholders are in constant communication, as the project cannot stand on its own without the users, and users cannot make progress without the project.
The project was initially recognized at the European level as the EU provided financial support for it. The dedicated team is responsible for the end result, "Prespa2Go." The project also had regional participation, as tourism workers from the Pelagonian region were included in training for creating tourist offers.
We can be proud of being well-recognized by travel agencies from the Pelagonian region as we created the only rural offer for Prespa, which they use for their needs. The local government positively recognized this project and provided constant support throughout the entire project. They appointed persons to secure all materials needed for the informational part of the website. Thanks to the Municipality of Resen and the local population who shared their famous legends, myths, and stories about Prespa, the "Prespa2Go" project is the only tool that exists where you can find all the tourist offers from Prespa with accurate data, professional photos, and video materials.
With the support of all relevant parties mentioned, we managed to achieve added value for Prespa together. We all managed to create "Prespa2Go" which promotes and highlights the extraordinary beauty of the region and all the tourist potential it possesses. With this project, we made Prespa accessible to everyone who has an appetite to visit it and make their choice through its variety of contents.
Even in the preparation of the project application, we included professors from the Faculty of Tourism & Hospitality in the research to obtain high-quality material. An expert from a tourism agency was also involved. We created the concept, "Prespa2Go," under the direction of relevant experts from the tourism industry, including tour guides and agencies. We also used existing strategies for tourism, such as the tourism strategy for the Pelagonian region and the National Strategy for Tourism, as well as existing documents from the Municipality of Resen.
To create the digital part, we hired a suitable company with professional teams of photographers, cameramen, and extras to make videos promoting the new tours. Additionally, an IT company was hired to develop the website and mobile app. Throughout the project, all experts were in constant contact and worked according to a given work plan. They were in direct cooperation with the subjects that were mapped and placed on the application and website. All photo and video materials, trainings, and educations were created with them.
As a result of our teamwork, we received a highly professional digital platform in the form of a mobile application and website, offering a unique experience to all stakeholders in the tourism industry. This adds value to Prespa and has a positive impact on both the tourism sector and the local population.
Involvement of all stakeholders at the local level enhances a sense of belonging in the community and drives their involvement in small-scale business. Residing in the region also offers them the opportunity to stay and contribute to the community's development. By working with all interested parties, we aim to improve the quality of life at both local and regional levels. We promote Prespa as a potential that can be continually upgraded, not only as a tourist destination but as a sustainable region economically and socially. Prespa2Go's active involvement in the community is exemplified by its inclusion of all stakeholders.
The project has produced tangible results, such as:
4 new multifunctional tours
13 key authentic attractions uploaded on Prespa2Go
Mapping and placement of 80% of Prespa's total accommodation and catering facilities
Information about 7 local tourist guides
4 informational maps for each tour
15 wooden signposts
The benefits have a positive impact on the community, as evidenced by a 30% increase in one-day visits, a 17% increase in overnight stays, and a 20% increase in bike path attendance over the course of 2 years. Additionally, the project's animation has proven to be an attractive tool, particularly among young people as seen through their engagement on social media.
Direct users of the project include the Municipality of Resen, the tourism business sector, and tourist workers. Indirect users include the local population, tourists, nature lovers, fishermen, agri-businesses, and potential workforce. For more detailed information on results, benefits, and impacts, please refer to the document posted in the next box.
The digital age has compelled us to take an innovative approach in developing tools that greatly benefit our target group. This means that we have successfully addressed the need to present a rural region with specific offerings on a digital platform and application, making it accessible to the modern world. We have achieved this by combining the unique characteristics of the Prespa region with modern technology. This step has directly contributed to the local community and stakeholders feeling a sense of belonging, while also modernizing, training, and educating them on the proper use of digital tools. This has increased their confidence, competitiveness, and availability of community offerings to end-users.
The innovation of the project lies in its concept. Through a highly professional mobile application and website, Prespa2Go aims to showcase the complete image and potential of the Prespa region, featuring quality video and photo content. The application includes all constituent components, such as services and offerings from the local population, with the goal of growing into a single brand that will restore the shine of Prespa as a whole. We will leverage digitalization to promote this brand and believe that this approach is currently the best solution for the development of tourism in Prespa, as evidenced by the results seen during the 2 years of the application's existence.
The methodology by which the idea for such a concept was created arose from the regional strategy for rural development. We also used relevant data from past years, where Prespa had abundant utilization of its tourist potential until 2003. For all the documentation, according to which the Prespa2Go model was created, we based ourselves on the needs of local entities that operate in tourism and on the current economic and social situation in our country. We also included the input of tourism workers, who provided valuable information on what is required in the tourism market from foreign guests.
In addition to this, we conducted extensive research on sustainable tourism practices and strategies for promoting rural destinations. This research was crucial in shaping our approach and ensuring that our model is not only effective, but also socially and environmentally responsible.
Taking into account all of these data and existing strategies for the development of tourism, we as an association developed a model for the Prespa2Go project, which we continue to maintain and improve to this day. We are currently in the process of applying for a copyright on our methodology, and by obtaining this title, we will be able to offer it to other localities and regions. We believe that our approach has the potential to make a real impact in the promotion and development of sustainable tourism in rural areas.
The whole concept as a whole can be replicated multiple times, that is, a network of mobile applications could be made for localities individually, wherever there is potential for rural or alternative tourism. For example, an application MARIOVO2GO,KRUSHEVO2GO, BEROVO2GO...and others can be created and all of them become separate parts of a digital platform Macedonia2Go.
This would create a comprehensive project of a high scale for the promotion of the tourist potential of MACEDONIA, with which the added value would be many times in favor of the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as the economic benefit at the state level.
As such a unified offer, North Macedonia would become more competitive on a global scale and desirable as a special tourist destination for attracting foreign guests. It is also possible to think in the direction of cross-border action, that is, to expand this concept of ours in the parts of Prespa in Greece and Albania, which would make the offer became a unified border offer for Prespa at the trilateral level.
The project faces significant challenges, including underdeveloped road and utility infrastructure in the Prespa region and the climatic factors that affect the lake's condition. However, we view these challenges as opportunities for solutions through the EU FOR PRESPA fund, and through our Prespa2Go project, we aim to demonstrate that Prespa offers much more than just lake tourism. Our goal is to highlight the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of the Prespa region while also supporting the local economy and community through sustainable tourism practices.
Prespa offers a variety of experiences such as an air bath, opportunities for unique adventures, hiking and bicycle paths, camping spots, monastery tourism, guided tours of the island, scientific research potential in the Nature Park Ezerani, delicious local cuisine, agrotourism and many other possibilities. This is the foundation of our idea and through Prespa2Go, we aim to emphasize and promote the vast potential of Prespa, as every day we explore new opportunities for tourist offerings with a mystical and adventurous character.
Additionally, the Prespa region faces global challenges such as the need to promote sustainable tourism and attract visitors to a rural place that is not yet fully explored or well-known on the global tourism map. However, we believe that by utilizing local solutions, such as community engagement and innovative sustainable practices, we can overcome these obstacles and put Prespa on the map as a destination for responsible and sustainable tourism.
