The INTERSMARTS project is an innovative initiative aimed at promoting sustainable tourism development and the blue economy in the Black Sea region. Through collaboration among academic institutions, businesses, and policy-makers, the project focuses on developing interdisciplinary solutions that enhance the sustainability of the tourism sector, protect the natural environment, and highlight cultural heritage. Through networking activities, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of best practices, INTERSMARTS lays the groundwork for cross-border cooperation and regional development, generating long-term benefits for local communities. The primary goals were:
To document the current situation
Identify critical gaps
Understand areas requiring support to transition to a more sustainable, environmentally responsible, and socially just tourism model
The data collected from a wide range of stakeholders offers a valuable foundation for designing policies and tools that align with the real conditions and priorities of the target areas.
Next steps include:
- Development of Decision-Making Tools
Creating targeted tools and support mechanisms to help local authorities and stakeholders make data-informed decisions on tourism development, based on good practices and sustainability indicators. - Design and Implementation of Educational Activities
Producing training material and organizing workshops and seminars for tourism professionals, local government staff, and other stakeholders, with a focus on smart and environmentally responsible practices. - Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
Promoting transnational cooperation among project partners to highlight best practices and enhance local capacities to adopt innovative solutions in tourism planning and management.
INTERSMARTS continues dynamically, aiming to offer practical tools and knowledge to support a more resilient, green, and participatory tourism model.