The European Union (EU) has committed to decarbonising its economy by 2050 to address climate change. At the same time, the ongoing energy crisis has sharply increased energy costs, threatening the financial viability of tourism infrastructure across many member states. To address these challenges, the EU is also prioritising energy security, self-sufficiency, and competitiveness. Additionally, the tourism sector has suffered significant decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with further strain from the current energy crisis.
In response to these challenges, the Interreg Europe DETOCS – DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support – project aims to support the recovery of the EU tourism infrastructure in a sustainable and low-carbon manner. In doing so, DETOCS aligns with EU long-term policies for the decarbonisation of the economy. During the project, best practices for sustainable tourism are identified and shared across partner regions, including Slovenia, Greece, Malta, Finland, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Netherlands. Partners also work to enhance regional policies that support the decarbonisation of the tourism industry through capacity building and the adoption of successful practices from other regions.
DETOCS contributes to EU Cohesion Policy, and specifically to the “Policy Objective 2 (PO2): A greener, low-carbon Europe”. The project promotes the transition to clean and sustainable energy in tourism infrastructure, supporting the achievement of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The targeted policies will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through investments in energy efficiency, energy-saving initiatives, and renewable energy solutions, in line with Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism (MFT) through the Policy Development and Programme Implementation Directorate (PDPI) is participating as a partner in this Project. The University of Malta is also another partner from Malta. Further information about the project is available at https://www.interregeurope.eu/detocs
As part of the project we as partners are required to carry out actions which can bring about policy improvement in our sector vis a vis sustainable tourism. This needs to be done by addressing the policy instrument Investment for Jobs and Growth Goal 2021/2027, Malta. Throughout the discussions with stakeholders and also from a PESTLE and SWOT analysis carried out among stakeholders one of the main aspects of concern and which was considered important, was the need for more visibility and access to information about funding opportunities for Tourism entities to be able to invest in Sustainable infrastructure and capacity building. In addressing this concern we are providing a digital one-stop reference point where information and updates on existing or up-coming funding opportunities are published. This information is obtained from different entities providing support related to energy efficiency and decarbonisation for the tourism industry stakeholders.
As part of its knowledge sharing objectives, DETOCS is producing a good practice brochure that showcases selected key practices from all partner regions. This brochure is designed to serve as a valuable resource for regional stakeholders involved in the tourism and sustainability sectors.
The Joint Thematic Guidebook is a joint effort of all the partners implementing the Interreg Europe DETOCS project. It identifies a variety of sustainable energy technologies currently in use across tourism entities. Beyond technological solutions, the guidebook emphasises the importance of soft measures that complement technical innovations. The guidebook is a joint effort of all the organisations participating in the implementation of the Interreg Europe DETOCS project, with the task coordinated by MAICH (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania)
As a result of the exchange of good practices between the DETOCS partners, the following document containing guidance tips for a more sustainable tourism industry has been produced. The tips provide a set of basic measures that may be implemented. The list of measures is not exhaustive.
Newsletters:
Fondi.EU Business Enhance Schemes
Malta Business Bureau (MBB) and Enterprise Europe Network
Malta Tourism Authority Eco-Certification
Malta Tourism Observatory – Malta Tourism Awards
For more information or any queries you may contact us on [email protected]
