fuTOURiSME Partners Gather in Athens to Shape the Project’s Lasting Legacy

Athens, Greece | 23–24 June 2026

The fuTOURiSME consortium gathered in Athens on 23–24 June 2026 for its Final Project Meeting, bringing together partners from across Europe to reflect on nearly three years of collaboration supporting tourism SMEs in their green and digital transition.

Since its launch in September 2023, fuTOURiSME has worked to strengthen the resilience, sustainability and competitiveness of tourism SMEs through financial support, coaching services, training opportunities and practical tools designed to help businesses navigate the challenges of a rapidly evolving tourism landscape.

Hosted by KiNNO Consultants, the meeting provided an opportunity to review the project's achievements, evaluate its impact and discuss the actions that will ensure the long-term sustainability of its results.

Supporting tourism SMEs across Europe

Throughout the project, fuTOURiSME has developed a wide range of resources aimed at helping tourism businesses become more sustainable, innovative and future-ready.

Key achievements include:

• Financial support for tourism SMEs through the fuTOURiSME funding scheme.

• Coaching and mentoring activities tailored to SME needs.

• Capacity-building and training programmes focused on sustainability and innovation.

• The fuTOURiSME E-learning Platform, offering accessible learning opportunities for tourism professionals.

• The beta version of the Sustainability Self-Assessment Tool (currently undergoing pilot testing), helping businesses evaluate their sustainability maturity and identify improvement pathways.

• Research, reports and practical guidance supporting the adoption of sustainability systems and certifications.

During the meeting, partners reviewed project performance, stakeholder engagement activities, communication achievements and lessons learned throughout implementation.

Looking beyond the project

While fuTOURiSME will officially conclude in September 2026, partners agreed that the project's impact should continue well beyond its lifetime.

The consortium remains committed to ensuring that the knowledge, tools and resources developed during the project remain accessible and useful for tourism SMEs, destination managers and tourism support organisations across Europe.

What comes next?

Several important project outputs and activities will be launched during the final months of implementation:

📅 European Peer Learning Workshop – 8 September 2026

A dedicated event bringing together project partners, SMEs and stakeholders to reflect on project achievements, exchange experiences and discuss future opportunities for sustainable tourism development. More details available soon.

📖 Consolidated Lessons Learnt Report

A comprehensive publication summarising key findings, recommendations and insights generated throughout the project, including experiences and results from the funded SME projects.

🧰 Sustainable Tourism Toolkit

A practical toolkit designed to help tourism SMEs advance their sustainability journey through guidance, methodologies and resources developed during the project.

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As fuTOURiSME enters its final phase, the consortium would like to thank all SMEs, experts, stakeholders and partner organisations who have contributed to this journey.

Together, we have demonstrated that sustainability and innovation can become practical opportunities for tourism businesses across Europe.

📣 Stay tuned for upcoming resources and events at www.futourisme.eu