Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The main objective of Preparatory Actions is to prepare future EU actions in various priority policy fields.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This preparatory action aims to support destination management organisations (DMOs), SMEs and other tourism stakeholders to fully participate in the preparation of the tourism data space and the Tourism Knowledge hub by easing their access through the creation of multiple tools. This project also contributes to the Pact for Skills for the Tourism Ecosystem.
Detailed Call Description
The Transition Pathway for Tourism identifies 27 areas of action to implement and monitor by 2030. This call for proposals aims at supporting the following topics as detailed in the Transition Pathway document:
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Topic 5: Collaborative governance of tourism destinations
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Topic 9: Data-driven tourism services
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Topic 15: R&I for digital tools and services in tourism
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Topic 16: Support for digitalisation of tourism SMEs and destinations
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Topic 19: Awareness raising on skills needs for twin transition in tourism
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Topic 22: Pact for skills in tourism
The Data Governance Act is a legislative framework introduced by the EU to address these challenges by establishing EU-wide interoperable data spaces across various strategic sectors, including tourism. The Act seeks to facilitate secure and efficient data sharing, ensuring that both personal and non-personal data, along with sensitive business information, are managed responsibly. By doing so, it aims to enhance data accessibility and quality while supporting innovation and minimising the environmental impact associated with data management.
In line with this initiative, the European Commission has established the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC)¹¹. The DSSC is responsible for implementing the EU’s common data spaces and coordinating the deployment of sector-specific data spaces. This coordination ensures that different sectors can effectively harness data to drive digital transformation.
In 2023, the European Commission outlined a Communication towards creating a Common European Tourism Data Space¹², identifying the essential elements and vision for enhanced data sharing and innovation in tourism. This initiative includes setting up a knowledge hub to aid destinations in developing data-driven management capabilities and strategies, reflecting the EU’s overarching goal of creating a more connected, sustainable and robust digital tourism sector for the future.
In 2026, a comprehensive strategy for sustainable tourism is set to be published, highlighting the pivotal role of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) in its implementation. This strategy will serve as a roadmap for enhancing sustainability practices within the tourism sector. The selected proposal will be expected to align their efforts with the objectives and guidelines outlined in this new strategy, ensuring that their activities support its goals. By integrating the resources and expertise of DMOs, the strategy aims to foster a cohesive and impactful approach to sustainable tourism development across the EU.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
90%
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Information Technology
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
- Tourism
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Businesses
- Local Authorities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
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be legal entities (public or private bodies)
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be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
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EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
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Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register — before submitting the proposal — and will have to be validated by the Central Validation Service (REA Validation). For the validation, they will be requested to upload documents showing legal status and origin.
Other entities may participate in other consortium roles, such as associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions, etc. (see section 13).
Specific cases and definitions
Exceptional funding — Entities from other countries (not listed above) are exceptionally eligible, if the granting authority considers their participation essential for the implementation of the action.
Natural persons — Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).
International organisations — International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.
Entities without legal personality — Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons²⁴.