Commission: Open Call for Funds to Support SMEs for Sustainable Tourism

Photo source: European Commission

The European Commission has issued an open call to transnational consortia that can provide direct support to SMEs towards the development and implementation of sustainable tourism services and operations.

Interested parties can apply by October 24, 6pm local time.

The focus of the program is on developing and putting into place transnational and cross-sectoral support schemes to build capacity for sustainable growth of SMEs in the tourism sector.

Business incubators, accelerators and business support organizations providing backing to SMEs and startups cooperating with providers of sustainable solutions, recycling centres, environmental education centres, social economy associations, professional associations will act a go-between organizing specific activities for tourism SMEs in different countries and provide direct support to companies to build their capacities to develop and implement sustainable and circular standards/models/strategies in their services and operations, while facilitating cross-border/transnational cooperation to foster peer to peer learning as well as to exchange knowledge and good practices in increasing tourism sustainability.

Eligible applicants must be fully or partly public or private bodies from within the EU or from countries participating in the COSME program.

Photo source: European Commission

Applicants must be legal persons forming a consortium including non-profit organisations (private or public), non-governmental organizations, public authorities and their networks or associations at European, international, national, regional and local level, or organizations acting on behalf of a public authority, responsible for or active in the fields of tourism, economic affairs, industry, business support or related fields international organizations, private and profit-making entities including micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) active in tourism and business support, chambers of commerce and industry, training and educational institutions, including universities and research centres active in tourism and business support.

Each consortium consist of a minimum of five and a maximum of 10 members/partners – different legal persons – covering at least five eligible countries, and will directly and financially support a minimum of 60 tourism SMEs from a minimum of three eligible countries. At least one consortium partner must be a business support organization and the team must also include a project manager and at least one tourism expert.

Natural persons are not eligible. British applications are subject to change depending on Brexit outcome.

Potential applicants should address questions related to the content of the call by e-mail to EASME-COSME-TOUR-COOP@ec.europa.eu.

For further information, press here.