The DETOUR – Developing Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Routes ( https://detour-eu-project.eu/) second transnational project meeting was held in Pavia, Italy from October 2 to 3 2025. The event was cordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza and the European Association of Vie Francigene. Partners from Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Türkiye gathered in Pavia because of its intercultural value: the city sits at a crucial crossroads along the Via Francigena, where multiple European routes converge. This made Pavia an ideal setting for exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation among key stakeholders to boost tourism along these routes.
As leader of workpackage 4 on “Capacity Building”, Training 2000 coordinated with partners for the finalization of the six specialized training modules that form the core of the DETOUR online course. Tailored to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), these modules are designed based on survey feedback from over 700 SMEs across the partner countries. These insights ensured the learning content closely aligns with the real needs of tourism operators along the Mediterranean trails.
The DETOUR training and mentoring programme is scheduled to launch in January 2026. It will offer comprehensive online training modules complemented by personalized mentoring sessions with experts in tourism and innovation. Additionally, participants will have access to grants of up to €25,000 to implement sustainable initiatives. The call for training applications remains open until November 24, 2025.
In a moment of reflection and celebration between intensive sessions, the partners marked the first anniversary of the DETOUR project, highlighting a year of fruitful collaboration and impactful activities. The meeting concluded with the programme of next steps, including preparations for the upcoming international meeting in Greece planned for spring 2026, to be organised by the Mediterranean Centre of Environment (MKP).
