Sustainable maritime and coastal tourism in the Outermost Regions

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)

Programme Description

The EMFAF supports the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. It provides support for developing innovative projects ensuring that aquatic and maritime resources are used sustainably.

The fund helps achieve sustainable fisheries and conserve marine biological resources. This leads to:

  • food security through the supply of seafood products
  • growth of a sustainable blue economy
  • healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans
Programme Details

Identifier Code

EMFAF-2023-PIA-FLAGSHIP-5-OR

Call

Sustainable maritime and coastal tourism in the Outermost Regions

Summary

Τhis call topic aims at preserving the marine and coastal environment and marine cultural heritage, and strengthening the attractiveness of coastal areas as a unique asset for competitiveness in the EU outermost regions. This topic aims at supporting projects that will develop a multidimensional and integrated approach to the tourism offer in the Outermost Regions. Proposals must address at least one of the following themes:
  • Design of smart eco-tourism packages and promotion of biodiversity assets
  • Innovation in destination management.

Detailed Call Description

  • Supporting tourism stakeholders to tap into the growing ecotourism market, while preserving the marine and coastal environment and their rich biodiversity and ecosystems and strengthening the sector’s resilience to climate change;
  • Boosting innovation and digitalisation in the tourism sector, thus increasing its contribution to economic growth and jobs in their territories and in line with Smart Specialisation Strategies as far as relevant;
  • Improving the business environment for tourism SMEs, mobilising private-public investments, enhancing socio-economic and market intelligence and territorial marketing based on the unique assets of the region, diversifying and increasing the visibility of the tourism offer and products.

Selected projects should carry out to the maximum extent possible the indicative (not exhaustive) activities listed below:

  • Design and testing of new tourism products, providing visitors with a high-quality experience, including new tools and/or EU or other internationally recognized tools, methods, and indicators/standards for sustainable tourism practices, and monitor and assess carbon and environmental footprint;.
  • Stimulating new business opportunities which directly or indirectly support ecotourism product experiences in and around protected areas;
  • Strengthening destinations through the collaboration of local clusters and communities;
  • Promoting less known areas and prolonging the tourism season;
  • Integrating different product components (e.g. accommodation, meals, activities, transport) and suppliers (tour operators, lodging, restaurants, canteens, etc.);
  • Strategic management of the destination with a long-term orientation and ways of better addressing environmental and social sustainability;
  • Marketing activities, including promoting cultural heritage and natural assets;
  • Accelerating the digital transformation processes including tourism data management and digital skills;
  • Data collection and monitoring of economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism to local destinations in a harmonized manner which can be aggregated to support regional or national statistics of tourism destinations and businesses, including by engaging tourism observatories;
  • Awareness raising and capacity building activities for stakeholders in the coastal and maritime tourism sectors to support uptake of new models and approaches.

Call Total Budget

€ 1,000,000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

85%

Thematic Categories

  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
  • Tourism
  • Trade and Commerce

Eligibility for Participation

  • Associations
  • Central Government
  • Fishermen, Aquaculturists, Owners of Vessels
  • Large Enterprises
  • NGOs
  • Private Bodies
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
  •  non-EU countries that are part of the sea basin strategies and/or regional cooperation frameworks

Promoting synergies between tourism and other productive activities, notably through multi-stakeholder partnerships/hubs/networks/clusters, involving governmental and other public bodies, trade associations, local government, businesses, citizen representatives, local communities, cultural associations, promotion agencies.

Call Opening Date

13/10/2022

Call Closing Date

31/01/2023

National Contact Point(s)

For more information, please contact the EU Contact Point.

EU Contact Point

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

https://ec.europa.eu/oceans-and-fisheries/contact-form_en

European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en

CINEA-EMFAF-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

Telephone: +32 (0)2 299 5252

(Publish Date: 13/10/2022-for internal use only)