- Arctur (Slovenia), project coordinator
- AnySolution (Spain)
- Centre of Business Excellence (Slovenia)
- Dubrovnik Development Agency (Croatia)
- The Iceland Tourism Cluster (Iceland)
- Open Tourisme Lab (France)
- Prishtina REA (Kosovo)
PHOENIX 4.0: Resilient ecosystem for Empowering Tourism SMEs
The Catalan Tourism Board (CTB) is participating as a partner in the European project called PHOENIX 4.0, which started in November 2024 and will last 34 months.
In addition to the Catalan Tourism Agency, the initiative features seven other partners from six destinations in total:
Moreover, the following entities collaborate as associated partners:
- The Slovene Enterprise Fund (Slovenia)
- City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
- Visit Reykjanes (Iceland)
- Autour du Louvre-Lens (France)
- Occitanie Tourist Board (France)
- Municipality of Peja (Kosovo)
The project has a global budget of more than two million euros which are 90% co-funded through the Single Market instrument. This is the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs that helps entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises to start operating, access financing and internationalise, in addition to supporting authorities in improving the business environment and facilitating economic growth in the European Union.
PHOENIX 4.0 is an innovative project designed to empower European tourism by strengthening its SMEs, which represent a crucial element for the sector.
In line with the European Commission’s aim to achieve a sustainable, resilient and competitive tourism industry, the project addresses critical challenges such as climate change, digital transformation and the evolution of societal values, all without compromising the sector’s fundamental role. By promoting an innovative ecosystem of co-creation, shared learning and mentoring, the project aims to ensure the longevity and resilience of European tourism and secure its future in the global landscape.
The project promotes a comprehensive shift towards more sustainable and innovative business practices among SMEs, supporting both Europe’s economic vitality and its environmental management. Through a consortium of diverse experts, it aims to guide SMEs through contemporary challenges, fostering a move towards adaptive, ecological and technological operations.
With a collaborative methodology, the project encourages interaction and the exchange of knowledge and innovative practices. It will start with an in-depth analysis to identify the specific needs of tourism SMEs in order to promote tailor-made solutions.
The planned tools include the tourism SMEs Resilience Navigator that will generate reports to guide and lead SMEs in the sector to be more robust in the face of future challenges. In parallel, the Academy and the PHOENIX 4.0 Laboratory will also be important resources to improve the experience of SMEs in digital and sustainable practices. Finally, financial support and advice will be provided to SMEs in order to encourage the adoption of sustainable and cutting-edge business models.
Finally, a call for grants for SMEs from the tourism sector will make it possible to implement pilot initiatives to test resilience projects. Catalonia is expected to receive 150,000 euros for about six projects.
