FU-TOURISM

The FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme is set to transform European tourism by supporting 60 SMEs with €20,000 each and expert guidance to embrace sustainability and digital innovation. Open to companies from Croatia, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Austria, and Poland, the programme offers funding as well as customised business support services.  

The FU-TOURISM Acceleration Programme invites SMEs from Croatia, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Austria, and Poland to apply for funding and expert guidance in sustainable and digital tourism. Sixty SMEs, 10 per country, will receive €20,000 each and an 8-month hybrid programme of training, mentoring, and consultancy. Applications are open from 31 October 2024 to 31 January 2025 via fu-tourism.eu/open-call. The programme was launched at the iBlue event in Lanzarote to promote transnational collaboration in regenerative tourism.

Comprehensive support for SMEs in Tourism

The chosen SMEs will participate in an 8-month hybrid programme combining funding and training, receiving €20,000 in direct financial support. They will also gain access to a range of business consultancy services, including online workshops on business models, mentoring focused on sustainable tourism development, and transnational networking webinars. Additional benefits include assistance in accessing EU funding opportunities of up to €2 million, with the potential to develop their proposals into European projects through initiatives like LIFE and HORIZON.

Through this initiative, FU-TOURISM aims to support the business sector while also contributing to the European Union’s objectives of tackling shared challenges in the tourism industry through innovative solutions. Selected companies will address priority challenges identified during FU-TOURISM’s mapping process, which serves as a reference for defining eligible innovative solutions under this call. Among the issues to address is the promotion of responsible tourism practices that minimise the impact of climate change.

FU-TOURISM Open Days offer guidance and networking

Open Day sessions will be held in context of the Acceleration Programme in all participating countries from November to December 2024. These events will provide details, application tips, and insights on the Acceleration Programme, along with industry best practices and collaboration opportunities. More details are available at fu-tourism.eu/events.

FU-TOURISM’s Acceleration Programme is just the beginning. In 2025, a second programme will support 42 SME associations with grants of €30,000 each, furthering the initiative’s mission to foster a sustainable and digital tourism ecosystem across Europe.

Keywords

Acceleration Programme, Digital Innovation, Responsible tourism, Sustainability, Business support services

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