On 22–23 January 2025, our organisation Training 2000 participated in the kick-off meeting of the DETOUR project: Development of Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Walking Routes. Organized by Antalya Provincial Tourism Management (ATM) with support from the Culture Routes Society (CRS), the event marked an important step in advancing the project and supporting sustainable tourism across the Mediterranean region.
The meeting was opened by Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin at the Governor’s office who warmly welcomed participants and expressed his interest in linking the cultural routes of the Eastern Mediterranean in a project for the benefits of sustainable tourism. He looked forward to the day when trekkers would be able to walk on cultural routes from Rome to Antalya.
Dr. Candemir Zoroğlu, Director of Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, and Filippo Botti, Manager of Administrative Services for the Municipality of Fidenza – the project’s lead coordinator – also addressed attendees, emphasizing the project’s significance in supporting local development and green transition.
Funded under the EU COSME programme, DETOUR is a three-year project with a €2 million budget aimed at empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas along the walking routes of the Via Francigena (Italy), the Lycian Way (Türkiye), the Sultan’s Trail (Bulgaria), and mountain routes near Mount Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni (Greece). The project unites eight European partners: Culture Routes Society, European Association of the Via Francigena Ways, Training 2000, Management Organization of Trakia Tourism Region, Mediterranean Center of Environment, Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Management and DMO ES.CO under the coordination of the Municipality of Fidenza.
By 2027 DETOUR aims to train 32 tourism stakeholders and 80 SMEs and provide up to €25,000 in funding to 32 innovative SME projects aimed at transforming tourism offers.
The meeting focused on the preparation of the survey, to be conducted among SMEs along the project’s walking routes to assess their current practices, challenges, and needs. The results will form the foundation of training modules designed to empower stakeholders and SMEs with skills in sustainability, digitalization, and innovative tourism practices. Additionally, partners coordinated upcoming info days to raise awareness and engage local businesses in the project.
The participants also had a chance to hike along the Lycian Way, a 710-km trail along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, and visit the archaeological site of Olympus, an historic Lycian, Roman and Byzantine city, which offered a glimpse of history from 200 BCE onwards.The next project meeting will take place in autumn 2025 in Italy, and will be organised by the Municipality of Fidenza and the European Association of the Via Francigena.



