Client: AEVF – European Association of Vie Francigene
Country: Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece
Period: 2024 – 2027
Project objectives:
DETOUR – Developing Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Hiking Routes is an innovative project funded by the European COSME program that facilitates access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along some of Europe’s most scenic routes, such as the Via Francigena in Italy.
DETOUR aims to enhance and strengthen local tourism ecosystems along rural hiking trails in Southeastern Europe, ensuring long-term benefits for hikers while supporting SMEs in the hospitality and catering sector.
Main activities:
- Preliminary survey: on-site and questionnaire survey in order to identify the needs of SMEs. Identification of existing best practices related to the tourism sector.
- Identification of training modules: identification of training modules to be submitted to SMEs based on the results of the preliminary survey.
- Training: training of experts who will become future SME trainers. Both online and in-person trainings organized in 5 modules
- SME training: training of Enterprises located along the routes (within 10 km) active in tourism. Both online and in-person trainings organized in 5 modules.
- Funding: SMEs that successfully complete the training phase and final test will be eligible to apply for mini-Grants (€15-25,000), to be presented in consortia of 2-5 public-private entities. SMEs will receive support throughout and the 2 best projects will receive influencer support in promotion.
Service provided:
- Support the review of the Grant Agreement and project budget;
- Project administrative and financial management support, including advice to lead and partners on budget management;
- Collection and control of documentation required to justify the expenses of the project leader and project partners;
- Support the preparation of interim reports and the final report.