Destination SMEs

Policies aiming at supporting SMEs lack some effectiveness and efficiency in the tourism sector in many European regions. With a more favourable environment, SMEs could grow faster and create more jobs. For tourist SMEs, it would require the creation of a management strategy of the territory, i.e. a Destination Management strategy. Tourist SMEs are part of a destination, an area with activities, accommodation, transportation systems etc. Destinations that are well managed are more likely to generate ‘wise growth' in their visitor economy, and are more likely to maximise the benefits of that growth in the long term, and create additional income and jobs. When a territory is not organised as a tourist destination, it is very risky to develop any business in it. Creating favorable conditions for tourist SMEs means to encourage the territories to organize themselves as a tourist destination. The aim of the project is to improve policies of the partner regions (structural funds and regional policies), in order to increase the competitiveness of SMEs of the tourism sector which are beneficiaries of these policies. This objective can be reached by supporting the deployment of these programmes through the implementation of destination management policies.

Title

Destination SMEs

Abbreviation

Destination SMEs

Lead partner

Regional Tourist Development Board of Auvergne (France)

Programme Interreg Europe 2014-2020

 

Partners

1.  Regional Tourist Development Board of Auvergne (France)

2.  Grand Paradis Foundation (Italy)

3.  Ministry for Gozo (Malta)

4.  Cork County Council (Ireland)

5.  Regional Council of North Karelia (Finland)

6.  Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)

7.  Regional Development Agency Mura Ltd. (Slovenia)

Objectives

Improve public policies (through structural funds, national or regional policy instruments) dedicated to the support of tourist SMEs and their competitiveness.

Activities

  • Experience and knowledge exchange among the project partners;
  • Identification of good practices;
  • Reciprocal Improvement Analysis of targeted policy instruments;
  • Dissemination and follow up activities.

Results

  • Increased competitiveness and quality of service of tourist SMEs;
  • Inter-institutional and inter-sectoral cooperation encouraged;
  • Individual business strategies strengthened, helping to create efficient service processes, contributing enhanced quality of service;
  • A number of targeted policy instruments improved.

Budget

Total – 1 482 618 EUR

Vidzeme Planning Region - 179 175 EUR

Implementation period

01.04.2016. – 31.03.2021.

Contact person

Rūta Vasermane

Tel. +371 64116007

Ruta.vasermane@vidzeme.lv 

Project webpage http://www.interregeurope.eu/destinationsmes/