Recovery of coastal and maritime tourism in the Western Mediterranean

Applicants will describe in their proposals the concrete and measurable results within the duration of the project and their expected impact beyond the duration of the project, including indicators for the monitoring and measurement of progress.

Projects are expected to achieve the following impacts to the maximum extent possible in line with the proposed activities:

• Durable partnerships/networks focusing on the chosen theme(s) involving EU and non-EU Western Mediterranean countries, and potentially including other EU Mediterranean Member States.
• New and applicable policy pathways and recommendations or action plans to support public authorities (national and regional) and services.
• Resumption of tourism services in coastal and insular territories incorporating new, innovative services for the whole value chain and for destinations.
• Reshaped and strengthened management practices, in line with EU policy priorities including a green, digital and circular economy approach.
• New public/private partnerships, start-ups, investments and job creation.
• New eco-tourism packages promoting cross border and interregional cooperation, with replication potential across the Mediterranean.
• Increased touristic activities that involve local enterprises and coastal communities.
• Increased digitalisation of the maritime and coastal tourism sector in the Western Mediterranean.
• Increased awareness of the Western Mediterranean as a sustainable, high quality and safe destination.
• Diversification of, and less seasonally dependent, maritime and coastal tourism products offered in the Western Mediterranean with a green, digital and circular economy approach.

The list of impacts is non-exhaustive and applicants are expected to include others, as appropriate for their proposal.

In line with the priorities of the European Commission, this call topic aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the coastal and maritime tourism ecosystem in the Western Mediterranean, as part of a smart and resilient blue economy. This call topic aims at preserving the marine and coastal environment and marine cultural heritage, and contributing to the attractiveness of coastal areas as a unique asset for competitiveness in the Mediterranean.

The action particularly aims at:

• Supporting tourism stakeholders to tap into the growing ecotourism niche tourism market.
• Boosting innovation and digitalisation in the tourism sector, thus increasing its contribution to economic growth and jobs in the Mediterranean.
• Improving the business environment for tourism SMEs, mobilising private-public investments, enhancing socio-economic and market intelligence, diversifying and increasing the visibility of the tourism offer and products.

This call topic seeks to support projects that will develop a multidimensional and integrated approach to re-building coastal and maritime tourism (including cruise tourism) in the Western Mediterranean. Proposals will include non-EU countries participating in the initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the Western Mediterranean to ensure a coordinated approach at sea basin level.

Proposals must address at least one of the following themes:
1. Innovation in destination management

• Proposals will address the following priorities to the maximum extent possible:
• Strategic management of the destination with a long-term orientation and better addressing environmental and social sustainability at the destination level.
• Creating value and making the destinations competitive and profitable, adjusted to the ‘new normality’ of the COVID era.
• Conservation of cultural heritage and natural values.
• Monitoring the competitiveness and sustainability of the destination.
• Promoting synergies between tourism and other productive activities, notably through participation of governmental and other public bodies, trade associations, local government, businesses, citizen representatives, local communities, cultural associations, promotion agencies.
• Effective marketing, including promoting cultural authenticity and natural assets.
• Accelerating the digital transformation processes including tourism data management and digital skills.

2. Design of smart eco-tourism packages
Proposals will address the following priorities to the maximum extent possible:

• Stimulating new business opportunities, which directly or indirectly support ecotourism product experiences in and around protected areas.
• Reducing the ecological footprint and strengthening the circular economy approach – notably in coastal cities and on islands.
• Strengthening destinations through the collaboration of local clusters.
• Promoting less known areas and prolonging the tourist season.
• Providing visitors with a high-quality experience.
• Integrating different product components (e.g. accommodation, meals, activities, transport) and suppliers (tour operators, lodging, restaurants, canteens, etc.)

For all of the above themes, applicants should clearly demonstrate how the proposal will:

• Contribute to the overall resilience in the tourism sector.
• Contribute to the objectives of the sea basin approach in the Western Mediterranean.
• Build on, complement and valorise the results of relevant projects, overarching initiatives, networks and cooperation frameworks at European and Mediterranean level.

Applicants will explain clearly in their proposal how they will implement, to the maximum extent possible, the following activities within the project duration (NB: this list is non-exhaustive):

• Establishment of multi-stakeholder partnerships/hubs/networks/clusters to tackle the chosen theme(s) and priorities, as outlined above, in a coordinated and collaborative way. Participating stakeholders should include entities from at least four Western Mediterranean countries, and include both EU and non-EU Western Mediterranean countries. Stakeholders from other EU Mediterranean Member States may additionally participate.
• Development of guidelines, business models and action plans for various stakeholders in the maritime and coastal tourism communities (e.g. regions, cities, businesses across the whole value chain, etc.) focusing on the chosen theme(s) and priorities as outlined above.
• Design and testing of tools to assess and measure environmental impacts and monitor the implementation of sustainable and circular approaches and indicators/standards for sustainable tourism practices.
• Design and testing of new tourism products corresponding to the chosen theme(s) and priorities above.
• Awareness raising and capacity building activities for stakeholders in the coastal and maritime tourism sectors to support uptake of new models and approaches.
• Development of policy recommendations for the chosen theme(s), based on lessons learned during project implementation and recommendations of mechanisms to ensure future sustainability and updating of activities beyond the project duration.
• Forecasting and monitoring management plans and their targets, including upgrading skills and training public and private operators.
• Engaging tourism destination observatories.
• Aligning resource management among national, regional and local planning frameworks.

All proposals should include additional, complementary activities (at least one) that support the main activities and the call topic objectives. Examples include:

• Activities to facilitate exchange and liaison with tourism organisations and networks at Mediterranean and European level, regional tourism observatories, fora, clusters, task forces and other ongoing projects.
• Activities to support regional and national sustainable tourism policies, including stakeholder and community involvement.
• Awareness raising and educational workshops, conferences, seminars, webinars, etc. for tourism stakeholders.
• B2B meetings and matchmaking activities for private sector and relevant stakeholders to support innovative solutions.
• Activities to boost customer demand for innovative tourism products (e.g. ecotourism or digital services).