TouriSME is an EU funded project fundamentally that promoted the adaptation of European tourism SMEs towards more sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient business models. The main objectives of the project were: Scaling-up the SMES’ activities and building capacity within their companies through knowledge transfer, exchanges and collaboration with other SMEs, business accelerators, incubators, development agencies and other tourism industry stakeholders across sectors and nations. Taking up innovative solutions that boost sustainable practices and circular business models, addressing the growing consumer demand for an eco-friendlier tourism experience and understanding the financial implications and cost saving opportunities. Accessing certification schemes and other EC initiatives that promote sustainable tourism and that leads to competitive advantages, such as EMAS, EDEN and EU Ecolabel. Preceded by setting up a knowledge base and mapping existing good practices in environmental management in the field of tourism, the project will see a development of transnational and cross-sectoral support schemes. These schemes will have the ultimate objective of enabling the participating SMEs to scale up their activities and build capacities within their enterprises and finally access certification schemes and other initiatives that promote sustainable tourism and lead to competitive advantage, as an added value. The main results of the project include: compendium of good practices which provides an insight in best practices related to sustainable tourism created business-to-business (B2B) synergies to facilitate the exchange of good practices among SMEs and technology and sustainable solutions providers, fostering networking and technical cooperation from the same sector and across sectors, which was consolidated through partnerships
