CROSSDEV

cisp@cisp-ngo.org 

CROSSDEV aims at promoting sustainable tourism policies and practices as a tool for the socio-economic development of countries in order to protect and enhance their environmental, historical and cultural heritage.

Funded by the European Union’s ENI CBC MED programme, CROSSDEV aims to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of lesser-known tourist destinations by adopting and developing the experience of two Council of Europe Cultural Routes – The Phoenicians’ Route and the Iter Vitis Route – in Italy, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.

Every year tens of thousands of young people, often university graduates, move from the south to the north in search of work. Every year hundreds of small businesses, often with a history of hundreds of years behind them and unique and ancient traditions, close down due to a lack of customers or the voracity of mass industry.

As a result, entire areas of the Mediterranean are in danger of being completely abandoned and of losing their immense natural, cultural and historical heritage.

By combining the growing global interest in sustainable tourism with the inestimable value of the heritage of some Mediterranean areas, CROSSDEV gives new hope of well-being to entire communities and offers the opportunity of quality travel to environmentally conscious tourists by transforming rural and less-travelled areas into new sustainable tourism routes and by working closely with the inhabitants to breathe new life into their traditions and cultural heritage so that these become an asset for their own socio-economic development.

Overall objective

To contribute to the social and economic development of the Mediterranean by strengthening and developing sustainable tourism practices.

Specific objectives

• To increase the attractiveness of lesser-known tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Expected improvements concern economic opportunities, income generation and employment, as well as social inclusion. Cross-border synergies and collaborations strengthen the attractiveness of selected destinations.
• The new diversified tourism offer should include niche territorial assets and develop new Sustainable Tourism Products. A cross-border perspective is adopted to develop and market new Sustainable Tourism Products and extend the economic benefits to local communities as much as possible.

Increased attractiveness of lesser known tourist destinations

Outputs:

• Cross-border agreements for the promotion of new sustainable tourism initiatives in lesser-known destinations
• Local Action Plans for the promotion of lesser known tourist destinations
• Increased visibility of selected destinations
• Support services provided to local communities, micro and small enterprises, service providers and suppliers in the selected areas.
• Improved natural, cultural and historical sites in the selected destinations

Increased diversification of tourism offered through the promotion of local and regional resources and off-season tourism

Outputs:

• Cross-border events to promote new Sustainable Tourism Products and networking among businesses
• Developed new Sustainable Tourism Products (e.g. tourist packages)
• Development of a Digital Platform to promote sustainable tourism practices in the selected territories
• Awareness-raising on the importance and role of sustainable tourism among enterprises, public authorities, local communities and young people
• Training for enterprises, tourism service providers, young people and students to expand opportunities in tourism