1st meeting in Prague

ENRICH-US kicked off: partners met in Prague and visited the pilot city of Bystřice

On 3–4 March 2026, the international ENRICH-US project started its implementation phase with a Kick-off meeting in Prague, followed by a study visit to the Czech pilot city of Bystřice. The two-day programme helped align the partnership and connect project planning with on-the-ground realities.

Kick-off meeting in Prague (3 March 2026)

ENRICH-US (Empowering Communities to Steer Sustainable Tourism Growth) has officially moved into implementation. The Kick-off meeting in Prague focused on setting up cooperation within the partnership and planning the upcoming activities. Partners aligned the working methodology, confirmed the project governance set-up, and agreed on the next operational steps for the pilot territories.

The agenda also included practical guidance on project administration, documentation and reporting. We were honoured to welcome special guests: Ms. Viera Slavikova, representative of the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Joint Secretariat, and Ms. Stella Horvathova from the Czech Ministry for Regional Development (First Level Control – FLC), who provided valuable input to support smooth implementation and compliance with programme rules.

Study visit to the pilot city of Bystřice (4 March 2026)

The Prague meeting was followed by a study visit to the Czech pilot territory—the City of Bystřice. Partners travelled from Prague and, after arriving at the Bystřice railway station, walked together to the local community centre, where they met representatives of the city. The visit continued with a walk through key locations in the town, helping partners better understand local needs and opportunities related to tourism development.

The purpose of the study visit was clear: to bridge project planning with local context and to support the preparation of pilot activities that will be developed and tested in Bystřice.

What ENRICH-US brings to Bystřice

ENRICH-US supports sustainable eco-cultural tourism with a strong focus on bottom-up, participatory decision-making. For Bystřice, the project is expected to contribute to:

  • improved coordination and collaboration among the municipality, local organisations, businesses and residents,

  • stronger stakeholder involvement in shaping tourism development,

  • testing practical tools for tourism management and visitor information (including digital solutions),

  • knowledge exchange and inspiration from Central European partners.

Next steps

Following the successful Kick-off and study visit, the partnership is now moving forward with stakeholder mapping, gathering territorial inputs and preparing pilot solutions. We will continue to share updates as ENRICH-US progresses.

ENRICH-US is implemented under the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE programme (01/2026–12/2027).