The innovative best practice is the Green Cup, a 5-week long sustainability challenge organized by Up2You. It involves company teams competing against each other through missions and tasks on the PlaNet Green Cup platform. The challenge aims to complete missions, earn PlaNet Points, climb the rankings, and beat other teams while supporting certified carbon offset projects with EcoIn coins.
Companies can register one or more teams, each comprising a maximum of 10 participants, to take part in the Green Cup challenge. The challenge takes place on the PlaNet Green Cup platform, where teams share news, tips, and complete quizzes, photos, and videos related to environmental impact and digital emissions. The dedicated team at Up2You manages the platform, approves content, and calculates scores, relieving companies of administrative burdens
The implementation of a tool in their website that asks potential customers questions about their preferences, tastes, and the type of stay they desire, and then suggests the most suitable solution among the offerings available. By going beyond standardized experiences, this approach provides personalized recommendations and enhances the overall customer experience.
The tool was designed to gather information from potential customers through a series of questions related to their interests, preferred activities, desired level of adventure, budget, and accommodation preferences. Based on the responses, the tool utilizes an algorithm to analyze the data and generate tailored recommendations from the available tour packages and experiences offered by the operator.
The innovative project with a focus on sustainable tourism involves partnerships with local restaurants or taverns to create charging stations for electric bikes in their parking areas. This initiative aims to support eco-friendly transportation options for tourists by suggesting spots with convenient charging facilities for electric bikes. By encouraging the use of electric bikes, the project promotes sustainable mobility, reduces carbon emissions, and enhances the overall sustainability of the tourism experience. This collaboration between the food service sector and sustainable transportation aligns with the growing demand for environmentally responsible tourism practices. The project was initiated through collaborations between the tour operator and enthusiastic restaurant and tavern owners. Charging stations were strategically installed in the parking lots of partner establishments, providing convenient access for electric bike users. The initiative was promoted through joint marketing efforts, highlighting the benefits of sustainable transportation and the opportunity to explore local culinary offerings.
Replacing ordinary plastic-based courtesy kits with ones made from coconut fiber. The challenges faced in implementing this good practice included sourcing reliable suppliers, ensuring the durability and quality of the products, and educating guests about the benefits of using sustainable amenities. These challenges were overcome through partnerships with trusted suppliers, rigorous quality control measures, and effective communication and promotion to raise guest awareness.
The innovative best practice after COVID-19 with a focus on sustainable tourism is to eliminate the buffet breakfast and instead implement alternative dining options, such as à la carte menu, reducing and eliminating food waste and promoting eco-friendly practices in the tourism industry.
The initiative was launched before the COVID-19 pandemic by collaborating with local food suppliers and adopting a new approach to breakfast service. Instead of a buffet, the hotel introduced à la carte or pre-made breakfast menus, allowing guests to select their preferred items. This is communicated to guests upon check-in.
Personalization of the tourism experience increases customer satisfaction and encourages visitor return.
Tourism services should be inclusive and respectful of the diversity of visitors and residents, including religious, spiritual or sexual orientations. This involves creating a welcoming environment that is open to all, where every individual feels respected and represented.
A previous project carried out in the area of tourism services for visitors and residents was CARE (CArpet bowls foR Everyone), an initiative implemented under the Erasmus+ program. This project aimed to promote a healthier lifestyle through sports, particularly the game of carpet bowls, and to involve all participants, putting them on an equal footing and breaking down language, gender, cultural, religious, and disability-related barriers.
This enabled the involvement of a wide variety of participants, promoting social inclusion and creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The project fostered integration between people of different cultures and languages, providing an opportunity to meet and interact through sports.
The CARE project involved partners from different European countries, enabling the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices.
Raising awareness of changes in tourism demand and twin transition opportunities for tourism requires a combination of strategies, including targeted outreach campaigns, awareness-raising activities on the adoption of sustainability tools, and support for networking and sharing best practices among European cities.
The projects carried out by both Officina Agroculturale Cafeci and Spaccio BIO are projects that focus heavily on educating their clients because only through a continuous and long-lasting process of education can interest and change be obtained from the population. In fact, while these initially encountered the participation of very few people, over time these have increased significantly with a remarkable growth in awareness that a change toward sustainable choices is increasingly necessary.
Based on the skills needs analysis, targeted information materials can be created that provide detailed information on the skills required to meet the challenges of twin transition in tourism. This material should be designed in a clear and accessible manner, using simple language and practical examples to illustrate the importance of the identified skills.
Once created, the information material should be disseminated widely among tourism stakeholders through appropriate channels such as websites, social media, industry events, and partnerships with professional associations. It is important to reach a wide audience of tourism stakeholders and industry professionals to ensure that they are aware of the skills needed to address the twin transition in tourism.
In addition to providing information on skill needs, it is also important to offer practical support for training and developing the necessary skills. This could include promoting training programs, hands-on workshops, mentoring, and other professional learning opportunities that enable tourism practitioners to acquire the skills needed to adopt more sustainable and innovative practices in their work.
Created through a collaboration between CNA and GAL Rocca di Cerere Geopark, Consorzio Together enables SMEs to acquire specific skills that are directly relevant to the local reality and challenges they face in the twin transition context.
The consortium’s active involvement in supporting SMEs in understanding the need for specific skills for the twin transition underscores the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in promoting the sustainable development of the tourism sector. The consortium acts as a catalyst for change, providing SMEs with the resources and support they need to meet the challenges of twin transition and adopt more sustainable and innovative practices.
This initiative demonstrates the importance of providing SMEs with the resources and support they need to adapt to the ongoing changes in the tourism sector and promote sustainable and resilient development.
It is essential to ensure that SMEs in the tourism sector have access to European, national and regional digitization programs. These programs can provide funding, training and technical support to help SMEs implement innovative digital solutions and improve their competitiveness.
The funding project that led to the construction of the new Geopark Center in 2022 represents a major boost to the digitization of tourist destinations in the village of Cacchiamo. This center was realized through the re-functionalization of the former elementary school, transforming it into a modern, multifunctional facility dedicated to welcoming visitors and promoting geotourism.
Equipped with interactive multimedia systems for reception and tourist information, the Geopark Center offers a series of spaces dedicated to public enjoyment and visitor experience. The presence of an educational multimedia room, an immersive room, an exhibition/laboratory room, and a bookstore makes it possible to offer a variety of recreational, informational, and educational activities that enrich tourists’ experience.
This project demonstrates how targeted investments in the digitization of tourism infrastructure can create new opportunities by enhancing the visitor experience, promoting sustainability and contributing to the economic growth of local communities.
Collaborative platforms should provide SMEs with access to detailed information on industry trends, environmental regulations, funding opportunities, and best practices in sustainability. In addition, specific tools, such as practice guides, sustainability assessment tools and sustainable business models, should be provided to support SMEs in the process of transitioning to more eco-friendly and socially responsible practices.
Collaborative platforms should provide opportunities for knowledge sharing through webinars, workshops, conferences and discussion forums. These events allow SMEs to access industry experts, participate in targeted training sessions, and exchange ideas and best practices with other tourism stakeholders. Knowledge sharing stimulates innovation, inspiration and co-creation of sustainable solutions.
These lessons learned highlight the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in fostering innovation and sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
CYSD – project under Erasmus+ focused on community-based and youth-led organizations.
The main objectives are:
Engage community-based youth organizations and young leaders to become agents of change and play a constructive role in marginalized areas in Europe and Africa.
Improve the capacity of community-based youth organizations and young leaders to better integrate the specific needs of people with disabilities and vulnerabilities.
Achievements include:
Initiated, tested and developed a capacity building program on “youth work, project management, leadership and community development.”
Increased socio-professional development of young leaders involved in training and job-shadowing activities: equipped with usable knowledge, key skills and tools to apply in their daily work with/for vulnerable youth and children.
Strengthening international cooperation, exchange of best practices and capacity building among young leaders, community organizations and local actors working in the field of youth and community development in the European Union and Africa.
