NewsWorld Tourism Day 2024: FU-TOURISM and its Key Role in Building Responsible and Innovative Tourism
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World Tourism Day 2024: FU-TOURISM and its Key Role in Building Responsible and Innovative Tourism

  • Today, 27 September, we celebrate World Tourism Day 2024 under the theme ‘Tourism and Peace’, which highlights the role of tourism as a promoter of understanding and reconciliation between nations and cultures.

 

  • With 96% recovery from pre-pandemic levels of international tourism and approximately 790 million tourists travelling globally in the first seven months of 2024, the sector highlights the urgency of adopting responsible and sustainable practices.

  • The FU-TOURISM project is committed to supporting SMEs in the tourism sector in their transition towards sustainable business models, promoting digital innovation with a focus on social cohesion.

 

In the framework of World Tourism Day, FU-TOURISM reaffirms its commitment to innovation, sustainability and digital transformation in the European tourism sector. This commemoration, promoted by UN Tourism since 1980, is a crucial moment to reflect on the impact of tourism on peace, social justice and sustainable development, especially in a world still recovering from global challenges.

The date not only seeks to recognise the positive impact of tourism on job creation and community development, but also highlights the need to adopt more sustainable and responsible practices that preserve tourism destinations in the long term. Indeed, tourism has the potential to foster understanding and cooperation between diverse cultures, while respecting human rights and promoting economic equity, thus contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

In a context of technological acceleration, changes in travellers’ preferences and growing expectations towards greener and more sustainable tourism, projects such as FU-TOURISM are positioned as key players to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adapt to this new reality.

A Sector in Recovery: The Current State of Tourism

According to the UN Tourism Barometer, in July 2024, international tourism reached 96% of pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 790 million tourists travelling internationally during the first seven months of the year. This rebound is due to strong demand in Europe and the reopening of markets in Asia and the Pacific.

Despite economic and geopolitical challenges, tourism is showing its capacity to recover. However, it is essential that this recovery is accompanied by inclusive and sustainable policies, which ensure that the socio-economic benefits of tourism are equitably distributed. FU-TOURISM aims to be a catalyst in this process by supporting SMEs to adopt responsible and environmentally friendly practices.

FU-TOURISM: Transforming Tourism through Innovation and Sustainability

With funding of €4 million from the European Commission through the Single Market Programme (formerly COSME), the FU-TOURISM project is dedicated to supporting the green and digital transition of European tourism SMEs. The project provides training and strategy development support in two pilot destinations: Valencia, Spain, and Poreč-Parenzo, Croatia. These destinations, operating under the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) model, will serve as best practice examples and support SMEs through collaboration in the 4-Helix Living-Labs.

Of the 35 proposals submitted in the European Commission’s call for the Single Market Programme ‘SMP-COSME-2022-TOURSME’, only 6 were approved. FU-TOURISM stands out among them for having the largest budget, underlining its importance for the business sector and the recognition of its comprehensive approach towards sustainability and digitalisation in the tourism sector.

Tourism, one of the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, now faces challenges related to climate change and travellers’ demands for more responsible experiences. In this context, FU-TOURISM is leading the transition towards more sustainable and digital tourism through its Acceleration Programmes, which offer a unique opportunity for SMEs from Greece, Poland, Spain, Croatia, Belgium and Austria. The initial programme will select 60 SMEs active or interested in sustainable and digital tourism, providing funding of €20,000, five months of hybrid training and access to specialised business consultancy. In addition, companies will be able to access EU funding of up to €2 million to turn their proposals into European projects. Through training and mentoring, the project connects SMEs with a network of experts in tourism, technology and sustainability, enabling them to gain valuable knowledge and foster strategic synergies for their growth.

 

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Contact email: office@fu-tourism.eu