In Catalonia, RESTART MED! also had the involvement of Barcelona Provincial Council and the participation of the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME).
The project had a total budget of 1.11 million euros and concluded in October 2023. It was 90% co-financed through the ENI CBC Med 2014-2020 Cross-Border Cooperation Programme in the Mediterranean Basin. This programme is part of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), aimed at promoting cross-border cooperation (CBC) among countries on both shores of the Mediterranean (MED) with the main objective of creating an area of peace, stability, prosperity, and good neighbourliness.
RESTART MED! created a Mediterranean network for sustainable tourism, incorporating sustainable tourism resources and best practices in the Mediterranean: http://medsustainabletourism.net/. The video explains the challenges of tourism in the Mediterranean and the solutions provided by the project.
In Catalonia, during 2022, six training sessions on tourism and sustainability were held as part of #formacióturismecat with a total of 104 participants from the public and private sectors, and civil society. The sessions focused on providing theory and practical tools for the creation and promotion of sustainable tourism products. The sessions for the creation and promotion of sustainable tourism were aimed at the private sector, which could later apply for grants for the promotion of sustainable tourism products.
Continuing on a broader scale, the project established a community of 148 individuals interested in tourism and sustainability and conducted two Sustainable Tourism conferences in the Mediterranean: one in Tunisia and another in Jordan where 3 out of 5 subsidized Catalan companies could present their sustainable tourism initiatives.
The CTB, in collaboration with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, monitored the implementation of five subsidized sustainable tourism initiatives. This financial support aimed to promote aspects of environmental, socio-cultural, and/or socio-economic sustainability. Each selected initiative had to emphasize at least two of these three aspects to be eligible for a grant. The proposals implemented were:
- “Agència de secrets” by Turismo Vivencial (4,000 euros): Promotion and marketing of an immersive experience in Vilanova i la Geltrú, aimed at senior travellers interested in discovering hidden corners.
- “Casa Bigodé” by Envall Cooperativa (5,000 euros): Development and dissemination of the cultural agenda of “Casa Bigodé” through attractive activities, using social networks and promotional materials.
- “La Manreana”, Juneda (5,000 euros): Strengthening online presence with a website redesign and sales engine improvement.
- “Camí de Buda de Riu” in the Ebro (3,600 euros): Promotion of a biking and kayaking experience on the Ebro River, with the creation of new and high-quality audiovisual and photographic material.
- “Catalan Gymkhana” by Gymcana Turística (2,400 euros): Promotion through strategic campaigns on social networks and collaboration with family influencers, amplifying the reach and impact of this interactive tourism experience.
For the public sector, the project tested the Guidelines Policy Analysis. The guide includes a checklist available to individuals responsible for creating and implementing tourism policies in Catalonia.
