3rd Call for Experts: WestMED Technical Group on Sustainable Tourism | Deadline 31 March 2026
Background
Given the fact that tourism plays such a significant role in the Western Mediterranean as one of the key contributors to both the upside gains as well as the downside risks of the blue economy, there is an urgent need for enhancing eco-tourism in the region.
To address these tourism challenges, there is a need to improve cooperation and project development between partners from both EU non-EU WestMED countries, and promote active knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders to multiply results.
Addresssing this need, will lead to the rapid transformation of the tourism industry – particularly to a more modern sector by adopting digital platforms, digital marketing and information technologies such as the internet of things, augmented reality and virtual reality.
For this reason, the Westmed Initiative has launched the Technical group on Sustainable Tourism.
The Objective
The objective of the Sustainable Tourism Technical Group within the WestMED Initiative is twofold:
- Serve as a technical forum to discuss trends and opportunities towards sustainable tourism within the region, and
- Support participants with project ideas and apply for funding through joint proposals, related to topics in line with EU Sustainable Tourism priorities – such as green transition, digitalization, promotion of social inclusion, governance, and skills.
Are you a professional/ expert working in the tourism industry?
Then this might be for you. This group is especially suited for Mediterranean Tourism Stakeholders from the public and private sector, partners of the Interreg Euro MED Sustainable Tourism Mission, partners from previous EU tourism projects, non-EU Associated Partners, Travel Foundations, Associations; Networks; Tourism businesses; Research and Innovation centers; Technological centers; Universities; Port representatives; Yachting/small cruising representatives, etc.
What’s in it for you
Expand your network and meet experts from different countries, where joint project proposals can be suggested and consortia established to take part in future EU funding opportunities related to sustainable tourism.
The expert group will also serve as a main forum to discuss specific topics of interest to the group, with links to EU Policymakers.
This group will meet periodically to be informed about opportunities and recent developments, with 3-4 online meetings per year.
Interested?
The deadline to apply is 31 March 2026. Only applications submitted within the deadline will be accepted. In case of too many applications, prioritisation will be given to experts from Southern shore countries of the Western Mediterranean region.
If you have any questions, please mail us at spain@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu or malta@westmed-initiative.ec.europa.eu
Applications have closed.
