DiscOver55, Tourism Destinations Crossover

ended

DiscOver55 project involves 4 EU countries and it is submitted by a Transnational Strategic Partnership: 2 SME of the tourism sector, 2 seniors organizations, 1 public authority, a non-profit research institution, a regional economic development agency. Its objectives are: facilitating senior mobility; enhancing transnational sustainable senior tourism flows in the medium/low season; spreading ETIS (the European Tourism Indicator System) to EU stakeholders; raising local awareness towards senior tourism interest/characteristics; raising quality and variety of offer; strengthening partner senior organizations role in active ageing. DiscOver55 contributes establishing more resilient and sustainable local economies, strengthening the European sense of citizenship and supporting elderly social/physical/psychological wellness, making our societies more inclusive.DiscoOver55 main target groups are partner areas tourism-related SME, public authorities and seniors organizations. To promote the target areas as international senior tourism destination it is crucial to take into account seniors specific needs, also deriving from their nationality profile, especially relevant when targeting seniors having no or poor experience in travelling abroad. This explains the strong project commitment in assessing the target needs, in piloting, in tailoring offer starting from assessment and evaluation activities results. At the same time, accessibility is taken into account from a physical and financial point of view: destinations easy to reach with affordable costs. All target areas share a valuable patrimony linked to the surface and underground water element (spas, open air water sports, hiking along ancient aqueducts, lakes exploration). On the water element DiscoOver55 builds its innovative transnational tourism product. Future sustainability is taken into account by committing local economic actors and senior organization into a Commercial Partnership Agreement.