15. 05.11:
Call: Sustainable tourism development
On 12 May, the Commission's DG Enterprise & Industry published its 2011 'Sustainable Tourism' Preparatory Action call for proposals aiming to fund projects that enhance the visibility of transnational thematic tourism products including (physical or virtual) trails, routes or itineraries. Projects will ideally be aimed at promoting cooperation and exchange of best practice between Member States to create a favourable environment for sustainable and responsible tourism. Partnerships require a minimum of four partners covering at least four European countries.
The following objectives are being focused on to stimulate competitive and high-quality European tourism:
- Raising awareness of the contribution of different cultures to a common European identity, through the understanding of shared history and common values on the basis of its tangible, intangible and natural heritage;
- Promoting cultural tourism as a factor for sustainable economic development, European citizenship and intercultural dialogue;
- Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism;
- Strengthening the capacity of tourism operators and small enterprises in remote and less known destinations to reach out to new publics (exchange of experience, networking and clustering efforts).
Among the shared tourism themes or linkages which this call might apply to are cycling routes, greenways, protected natural sites, cultural heritage, historical references, food and drink, health and wellbeing, education, sport, rural matters and maritime issues. 4-6 projects of up to 12 months’ duration are likely to be funded to the tune of approximately EUR100,000 each. The maximum EU co-financing rate is 75%.
Deadline: 1 July
Further details
