Knowledge exchange bolsters tourism sustainability
Tourism has grown phenomenally over the last decade and Europe has positioned itself as the number one tourism destination worldwide. In this context, however, it is pivotal for the tourism sector to become more environmentally sustainable. The EU-funded project TOUREG sought to improve tourism sustainability through the generation and transmission of knowledge. The project established a platform representing a new international research-driven cluster in the tourism industry with the involvement of six European regions. The specialised tourism regions involved were the Balearic Islands in Spain, Crete in Greece and Madeira in Portugal. Developing tourism destinations also participated in the project, namely south-west Bulgaria and Mehedinti in Romania's Carpathian Mountains. In addition, Norrbotten in northern Sweden joined the project as a technologically developed region. This triple-helix approach was boosted by the participation of universities, regional governments, research organisations, local businesses and other stakeholders, helping to gather valuable data on the trends and challenges in tourism. The particular initiative helped establish and consolidate regional cluster initiatives to foster innovation, collaboration, competitiveness and sustainable economic development. In more specific terms, the project improved research development and innovation (RDI) policies, facilitating knowledge generation and transfer in policymaking. It oversaw the exchange of valuable experiences between participating regions and countries to help increase productivity in the tourist sector, an initiative bolstered by the project website. Key project results include an analysis of tourism-related services in each region, a platform for knowledge transfer, and the identification of actions of mutual interest at regional and transnational levels. Other major project achievements include a handbook on how to apply information technologies efficiently in the tourism industry, and a report of conclusions and recommendations for future public RDI policies. Lastly, the project team articulated a joint action plan to ensure continuity of the research-driven cluster. These achievements enabled TOUREG to improve the competitiveness of the tourism industry and its companies by identifying innovative technological solutions and promoting their transfer. The project has worked in sectors of strategic interest for tourism, which in turn helps to overcome major challenges. Among these challenges, the project highlighted how tourism is an activity dependent on the territory: a more diverse, attractive and sustainable territory is much more prepared to attract quality tourism. Another challenge includes harnessing the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector, which has revolutionised the business model for tourism-related businesses across the value chain (e.g. transportation, accommodation). The energy sector and its applicability to tourism have also been addressed, with project members identifying the needs, high-tech solutions and savings in this area as well. By learning from each other's experiences and influencing policymaking, these regions can improve their tourism product and render it more sustainable, thanks also to a powerful platform created for this purpose. Such a dynamic exchange supported by innovative technology-driven solutions, active stakeholders and improved policies is bound to set an example for other regions worldwide.
