ENO-GASTRO TOURISM TRAINING PROGRAMME
FREE TRAINING
Welcome to the Enogastro Tourism Training Programme — a dynamic capacity-building initiative designed to empower professionals in the wine, food, and tourism sectors across the Western Balkans. As demand grows for authentic, sustainable, and locally inspired travel experiences, this programme equips participants with the tools and knowledge to develop compelling eno-gastro tourism products rooted in regional culinary and wine heritage. The training fosters cross-sector collaboration between wineries, hospitality providers, and tour operators, helping participants create integrated offers that elevate the visitor experience. Through a combination of online modules and an in-person networking event in Skopje, the programme provides hands-on learning in product development, digital marketing, service quality, and sustainability—while also building a strong regional network committed to shaping the future of eno-gastro tourism.
Programme Snapshot
- Format: 10 online lectures + 1 in-person networking event
- Duration: Mid-August to September 2025 (3 hours per session, twice weekly after working hours)
- Networking Event: October 4th, 2025 – Skopje, North Macedonia
- Language: English
- Max Participants: 20–25 from across the Western Balkans
- Receive a certificate of completion at the final networking event
Who will benefit from this training?
- HORECA professionals (hotels, restaurants, catering services)
- Wineries, wine shops, wine boutiques
- Winery staff and wine tourism service providers
- Tour operators interested in eno-gastro expansion
- Journalists who are covering wine, food and tourism as topics
Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate the ability to share their learning within their communities and take practical steps to apply their knowledge after the training.
What You Will Gain
- Understand global and regional trends in eno-gastro tourism
- Design individual and joint offers built on regional wine and culinary heritage
- Apply sustainable practices and innovate your service mode**l
- Build meaningful partnerships and create collaborative experiences
- Master digital tools, storytelling, and co-branded promotional strategies
- Improve service quality through certifications and standards
- Explore funding and regional scaling strategies
Learn from Top Experts
Frederic Julia
Frédéric Julia is a wine marketing expert with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO), specializing in developing regional strategies to promote Western Balkan
wines in global markets and boost the region’s wine tourism potential.
Vanja Pushkar
Vanja Puskar is the co-founder of the the founder and curator of New Balkan Cuisine , “Chefs Club Belgrade” and a contributor to the “Modern Serbian Food” project. Vanja champions a philosophy that blends local ingredients with contemporary culinary techniques. He is a passionate advocate for working closely with local producers, believing that understanding the origin of ingredients enables chefs to translate authenticity, energy, and love onto the plate. Since 2016, through New Balkan Cuisine, he has been leading a movement to elevate and modernize the gastronomic identity of the Balkans.
Vlatko Sulev
Vlatko Sulev is the General Manager of Balkan Prime Tours and President of the National
Association for Incoming Tourism of North Macedonia (NAITM), with extensive experience in crafting sustainable, culturally immersive eno-gastro tourism experiences and leading
collaborative industry initiatives across the Western Balkans
Ilijana Petrovska
Prof. Ilijana Petrovska is an international marketing expert with over 25 years of academic and consulting experience, specializing in tourism, hospitality, and sustainability. A professor at the University American College Skopje and Fellow of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing, she has taught worldwide and delivers professional training in digital marketing, branding, and
sustainable promotion strategies for the eno-gastro tourism sector.
Elena Ivanova
Elena Ivanova is a sustainable tourism expert with extensive experience as an IPA CBC evaluator and IPARD consultant, specializing in cross-border cooperation and rural development funding. As Managing Partner of Impact Ventures and Director of the Impact Foundation, she has facilitated numerous tourism programs across the Western Balkans, supporting inclusive growth, destination development, and access to finance for SMEs. Her work focuses on bridging public and private sector efforts to design impactful interventions and sustainable tourism strategies across the region.
Tatjana Boshkov
Prof. Dr. Tatjana Boshkov is Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Business Logistics at Goce
Delcev University, a researcher and strategist specializing in tourism, cultural heritage, and
socio-economic development, with extensive experience leading international projects and
fostering regional collaboration.
Darko Pehar
Darko Pehar is the Secretary of both the Tourism and Hospitality Association at the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Wine Producers, where he plays a pivotal role in coordinating industry collaboration, promoting wine culture, and supporting joint regional participation in major international trade events like ProWein.
Gazmend Shehi
Gazmend Shehi is an agri-food and wine technology specialist with over two decades of
experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and production consultancy within
Albania’s wine and olive oil sectors. He has served as a Quality Assurance Auditor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Inspector at the National Food Authority, and internal expert for the ILO on technical skills in the wine value chain. As President of the Family Wine Producers Association of Albania, Gazmend has contributed to national policies on vineyards, olive oil, and geographical indications, while also publishing extensively on wine quality and sustainable production practices.
Training Calendar
1. - 27.08.2025
Frederic Julia – Infroduction – the need for development of joint touristic offers
Frederic Julia – Market trends: Global demand for authentic, sustainable experiences
2. - 02.09.2025
Tatjana boskov UGD – Introduction to Eno-Gastro Tourism
3. - 04.09.2025
Darko Perhar – Regional Gastronomic & Wine Heritage as a base for Product development and Experience design
Darko Perhar – Individual offers for wineries, HORECA, and Tour operators
Darko Perhar – Joint offers collaborative packages, cross sector partnerships and interaction with local producers – DMO
4. - 09.09.2025
Vanja Puskar – Regional Gastronomic heritage
Regional Wine heritage
5. - 11.09.2025
Igor Lukovic – Storytelling techniques , heritage, traditions, terroir..
Igor Lukovic – Joint promotion- Co-branded events, festivals, and influencer collaborations
6. - 16.09.2025
Ilijana P – Digital tools-campaigns, virtual tastings, booking platforms
Ilijana P – Customer experience: Feedback systems and complaint resolution
7. - 18.09.2025
Service protocols: Wine serving temperatures, food pairing principles, and cultural sensitivity
8. - 23.09.2025
Sustainability, innovation & standarization
9. - 25.09.2025
Funding sources (ex. Ipard, crowdfunding, private investors)
10. - 30.09.2025
Влатко Сулев – Partnerships, Negotiation frameworks, commision structures, exculisivity clauses etc.
11. - 04.10.2025
Group work – participants imput
workshop – joit work and development of products and futher actions – preparing joint action plan
Ready to join a vibrant community of professionals committed to advancing sustainable and regional eno-gastro tourism? Submit your application at:
Link or contact us directly at contact@wom.mk
This programme is supported by the Western Balkans Fund under its 7th Call for Proposals, co- funded by the European Union through the IPA III instrument.