Nicosia, Cyprus. The EU-funded ReTour programme has officially begun, aiming to strengthen the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector across the Mediterranean, including in Cyprus.
Project leadership and funding
According to an announcement by the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), the project, titled ‘Creating Resilient SMEs in the Tourism Sector (ReTour)’, is led by the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens.
It is funded under the Interreg NEXT MED programme, with a total budget of €1.83 million, of which €1.63 million, or 89 per cent, is contributed by the European Union.
Objectives and areas of support
The initiative aims to support tourism SMEs in adapting to an increasingly volatile operating environment, marked by recurring crises, seasonal pressures, climate change and wider geopolitical developments.
It also seeks to enhance long-term competitiveness by promoting innovation, cross-border cooperation and targeted skills development.
Technologies and expected outcomes
Participating businesses will gain access to advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain, alongside tools and practices linked to sustainable development.
The project is expected to help SMEs modernise operations, improve decision-making and build more resilient business models.
Timeline and participating countries
ReTour will run for 30 months and is being implemented in six countries: Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Italy, Turkey and Lebanon.
Consortium and Cyprus participation
The consortium includes nine partners, supported by eight associated partners, to reinforce links with the tourism market and the wider regional ecosystem.
Cyprus is represented by the University of Nicosia Research Foundation and the CSTI.
How do you think access to technologies such as AI, IoT and blockchain could affect tourism SMEs in your area?