Island Sustainable Tourism Action through Resilient SMEs

ongoing

"""Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but must be the new norm for every part of our sector. It is in our hands to transform tourism and that emerging from COVID-19 becomes a turning point for sustainability"", UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. The ""Island Sustainable Tourism Action through Resilient SMEs"" proposal wants to take at least 125 tourism SMEs operating on the islands of Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Italy, on a transformation ‘journey’, the 2030 journey to recovery and sustainability - while another 175 SMEs will be boosted in as far as their development and capacity in the area of sustainable innovations is concerned. This proposal has chosen to target tourism SMEs located on islands that rely heavily on tourism and have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The impact of tourism-related activities on the local environment of the destination is manifold. Uncontrolled tourism growth poses potential threats and actual pressures on natural resources and on the quality of life of local communities. These aspects are especially significant for islands, which due to geographic isolation, small size and economy, are more vulnerable and in need of solutions to remain competitive in the years to come. The ‘smallness’ factor also allows for such regions to be flexible and willing to explore and up-take solutions for improvement. The I-STARS partners will prepare such businesses for their journey to recovery and enhancement: first, by packing their suitcases with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools; second, by financing their travel to the destination of sustainability and resilience. Throughout this journey, all experiences gained will be 'collaged' & spread through story-telling, with the key message being that the 2030 journey is the primary vehicle, the new norm, leading tourism SMEs out of the COVID19 crisis, helping them emerge more resilient, innovative and sustainable."