[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/9630\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESun, sea, sustainability \u2013 could your next European holiday be a greener one?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing two years of restrictions and with pent-up demand, millions of Europeans are packing suitcases and flocking to airports to jet off for relaxing getaways. And for many people planning a holiday, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2022\/06\/29\/a-new-responsible-travel-index-has-ranked-every-country-heres-how-it-can-help-you-plan-a-h\u0022\u003Eresponsible travel\u003C\/a\u003E has become a significant consideration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEurope\u2019s popular outer islands, from the Aegean, via the Balearics to the Canaries, are some of those places most ready to welcome visitors back. The pandemic \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/regional_policy\/sources\/policy\/themes\/outermost-regions\/pdf\/covid19_or_study_en.pdf\u0022\u003Edecimated their visitor numbers\u003C\/a\u003E by up to 70%, causing a huge knock-on effect for local economies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut while tourism may be the mainstay for the islands, like most things, it comes at a cost. An influx of expectant visitors puts pressure on the local environment, transport systems and infrastructure, and creates challenges for the local community also.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESun-kissed\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn sun-kissed Madeira, some 1000km off the coast of Portugal, the holiday season is back in full swing as tourists return to enjoy the island\u2019s stunning beaches and spectacular views. But as visitors weave in out of the island\u2019s hotspots in rental cars, clogging up the local roads, tempers begin to fray.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Typically, there are issues of over-crowding, insufficient resources and a lack of integration between tourism and transport,\u2019 explains Funchal-based Claudio Mantero. Mantero is the coordinator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/689031\u0022\u003ECivitas DESTINATIONS project\u003C\/a\u003E, which is attempting to improve links between tourism and transport for island destinations like Madeira.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the project, Mantero and team studied the impact of tourism on transport systems in Madeira, Gran Canaria, Malta, Elba, Crete and Limassol. Using smart sensors to monitor how and when visitors move about, their work has helped pinpoint what it might take to move people towards greener transport choices. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EWe\u2019ve shown there is a very clear opportunity for greater cooperation between traditional tourism and local transport.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EClaudio Mantero, Civitas Destinations \u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The key issue is reducing the numbers of private cars,\u2019 said Mantero. \u2018Currently everything is orientated towards hiring cars and driving around islands. We see multiple opportunities to introduce more sustainable forms of transport which can attract tourists and actually make their experience a better one.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBike rental\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey piloted some new tech-based trials. In Limassol, for instance, they developed an app providing tourists with easy-to-access information on bike rental and walking tours. Meanwhile, on Elba, they set up an online hub gathering all sustainable transport and public travel options in one place.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELower-tech solutions are also in play. There are new training programmes for hotel staff on guiding tourists to where they can hire and ride bikes. This includes taking advantage of cross-selling opportunities between different transport options, for example, by offering discounts to tourists taking public transport.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther measures required deeper changes to transport infrastructures, such as new bus routes to rural destinations with clearer information for tourists about where to jump on and off. In Limassol, bike racks were also fitted on buses to allow tourists to combine visits to these rural locations with some active adventure. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAboard the e-bus\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHundreds of new electric bikes and a suite of new electric buses for the islands have been purchased and tested as part of the project. This includes the first ever e-bus to arrive in Crete. By demonstrating how efficient and practical they are, the project has helped to unlock new funding for more buses which, in turn, helps to improve air quality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe main takeaway for Mantero, though, is the importance of improved integration between tourism and transport. He sees an opportunity to embed tourism within sustainable urban mobility plans and to create a blueprint that can be shared beyond the islands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cfigure role=\u0022group\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u00a9 CIVITAS DESTINATIONS 2020\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022file\u0022 data-entity-uuid=\u00224b2716cc-6237-4d34-9d39-2f14f07ecf1a\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/hm\/IMCEUpload\/20171130_103659%20%281%29.jpg\u0022\u003E\n\u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022tw-italic tw-mb-4\u0022\u003E\u00a9 CIVITAS DESTINATIONS 2020\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018With this project we\u2019ve shown there is a very clear opportunity for greater cooperation between traditional tourism and local transport,\u2019 said Mantero. \u2018There\u2019s an appetite among tourists for a greener tourist experience and, through integration, we know we can bring significant benefits for visitors and for residents too,\u2019 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmblematic issues\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA different EU project seeking to shift how we holiday and to improve the sustainability of tourism is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/870708\/\u0022\u003ESmartCulTour\u003C\/a\u003E. Working in Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, it encourages tourists to leave the hordes behind and visit lesser-known areas that are not typical tourism hotspots. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The issue in many places is not actually too much tourism, but rather there\u2019s too much concentration in certain areas,\u2019 says project coordinator Dr Bart Neuts, economist and cultural tourism expert from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at KU Leuven in Belgium.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScenes of cruise ships that until recently were allowed to sail into the heart of old Venice, tourist buses lining the streets of Barcelona or umbrella-led walking groups touring Paris, all trying to tick off the same cultural sights, are emblematic of the issues that certain areas face.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA narrow view of what constitutes cultural heritage dominates people\u2019s travel choices, at the expense of lesser-known attractions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Our main goal is to open up tourism to rural peripheral regions - areas which we know could benefit from greater visitor numbers,\u2019 said Neuts. \u2018To do this, we are trying to broaden how people understand cultural heritage as being not just the famous monuments and artefacts located in Europe\u2019s big cities.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EWe are trying to broaden how people understand cultural heritage as being not just the famous monuments and artefacts located in Europe\u2019s big cities.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EBart Neuts, SmartCulTour\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy working with local communities across six \u2018living labs\u2019, the SmartCulTour team seeks to support regional tourism by highlighting hidden gems in an area. Such gems might be tangible, such as buildings or intangible, like people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team is working with local groups in Rotterdam to co-design cultural tourism products. Enjoying relatively few visitors historically, Rotterdam has experienced rapid growth in recent years, due to the city\u2019s modern urban image. This vibe is something which the living lab hopes to capitalise on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFuller flavour\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the area of Huesca, in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees, tourism is geared towards skiing with visitors mostly by-passing the castles, abbeys, and wineries on offer. The Huesca living lab is trying to create a more integrated rural tourism product to give visitors a fuller flavour of the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd in far-flung Utsjoki in Lapland \u2013 the northern-most municipality in Finland \u2013 the SmartCulTour project\u2019s local living lab has spotted an opportunity to expand the season beyond summer when visitors arrive to fish for wild salmon. Introducing people to the indigenous S\u00e1mi culture in a culturally sustainable way could be a new way forward for tourism in the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeuts is clear that there are sensitivities and trade-offs with all these ideas and emphasises that these projects are community-driven and inspired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We want to help local stakeholders define new and viable tourist products to help put their areas on the map,\u2019 he said. \u2018It\u2019s about working together to identify what\u2019s possible and acceptable.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhilst it\u2019s now up to local stakeholders to run with the ideas generated and to market new holidays, Neuts thinks there is a clear potential with today\u2019s tourists looking for more experiential travel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We know tourists will continue to visit the big destinations, but there is a growing number also looking for that different type of experience,\u2019 he said. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf sustainable tourism is supported to grow in locations off the beaten tourist track, it can help these destinations become more economically resilient longer-term. For now though, that process will need both community investment and local political support to develop. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch in this article was funded by the EU. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-zynor11chwnaaiw-pq9kxol6ifhjlhsrwqdzg6qqt8e\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-ZynOr11cHWnaAIW-pq9kxoL6iFhjlhSRWqDZg6QQt8E\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]