The DETOUR project is a European project funded by the European Union in the framework of the COSME program. With a budget of 2 million euros and a duration of three years, DETOUR aims to support the sustainable and resilient development of tourism along rural and historic routes in the Mediterranean area. Its primary goal is to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector to enhance their competitiveness, innovation capacity, and growth potential through funding access and digital tools.

Key objectives of DETOUR

1. Facilitating SME access to financing: the project helps SMEs secure funding to enhance their infrastructure and services, enabling them to create more appealing, high-quality tourism offerings along Mediterranean rural and historical routes in collaboration with local partners.
2. Training resources: DETOUR provides specialized training programs for the key tourism stakeholders in partners’ countries and SMEs, based on thorough assessment of their needs and motivations.
3. Digital Transformation in the tourism field: by supporting the adoption of technologies like digital service management platforms, mobile applications, interactive maps and online marketing tools, the project empowers SMEs to stay competitive in a rapidly digitalizing market and expand their reach to a broader audience.
4. Building international collaboration networks: DETOUR unites partners and associate members from various European countries—including Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and the Netherlands —to form a collaborative network that promotes the sharing of knowledge and best tourism practices.

Project partners:

• Municipality of Fidenza, Italy – Coordinator
• European Association of the Via Francigena (AEVF), Italy
• Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi (CRS), Türkiye
• DMO ES.CO. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma (ESCO), Italy
• Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism (ATM), Türkiye
• Training 2000 Piccola SC (T2000), Italy
• Mediterranean Centre of Environment (MKP), Greece
• Organization for the Management of the Thracian Tourist Region (MOTTR), Bulgaria

Associated members:

• Sultan’s Trail Foundation – The Netherlands
• Edirne Promotion and Tourism Association –  Türkiye
• World Trails Network – Switzerland

Project pilot areas:

DETOUR pilot areas follow Europe’s most scenic and historic routes along selected stretches:

• Via Francigena: 3200 km trail that spans from Canterbury, UK, through France, Switzerland and Italy 
• Lycian Way: 710 km in Southern Türkiye, Antalya Province
• Sultan’s Trail:  2400 km route from Vienna to Istanbul 
• Network of Mountain Routes of about 280 km around Mount Olympus and Kissavos in Greece

The Management Organization of Trakia Tourism Region (MOTTR) will work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tourist services providers for the development of the Bulgarian part of Sultan’s Trail. The project, which begins with a research phase on the challenges that SMEs face, their needs and ideas for development, with a focus on the benefits from the routes, will provide training in the field of digital transformation and sustainable tourism. After that, the participants who have successfully completed the training will be invited to prepare business projects, and the best of them will be directly funded. At the end, the most successful implemented projects will be awarded with advertising videos and media tours. The project manager from the Bulgarian side is Radost Ivanova, Executive Director of MOTTR, who, in addition to the above-mentioned activities, will also place a high priority on the promotion of the region’s natural and cultural landmarks, not only in Bulgaria, but also around the world.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.