ReTour
ReTour – Building Resilient SMEs in the Tourism Industry
Project Website: https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/retour/about/
ReTour Interreg NEXT MED Project: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Implementation Period: 29/10/2025 – 28/04/2028
Duration: 30 months
Funding Agency: Interreg NEXT MED Programme
ReTour Consortium:
- National Technical University of Athens, (Lead Partner) Greece
- Stratigon Finance Private Company, Greece
- University of Nicosia Research Foundation, Cyprus
- Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
- Specto, Jordan
- Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative CSTI
- Promimpresa Società Benefit S.R.L. Italy
- Université La Sagesse Lebanon
- Tarsus Comodity Exchange Turkey
The kick-off meeting was held successfully on Wednesday & Thursday 7-8/1/2026 at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
Project Summary
Tourism is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean economy, yet the sector’s small and medium-sized enterprises are often the most exposed to external shocks, including health emergencies, environmental events, and geopolitical uncertainty. ReTour responds to these challenges by supporting the modernization of Mediterranean tourism through the adoption of advanced digital technologies and sustainable business practices.
By leveraging tools such as artificial intelligence, blockchain solutions, and smart sensing technologies, ReTour helps local tourism businesses strengthen their operations and prepare for future crises. Through a strong partnership spanning Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye, the project will support more than 150 tourism enterprises in enhancing efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility. Ultimately, ReTour seeks to safeguard jobs, improve competitiveness, and elevate the overall tourism experience, even in times of uncertainty.
ReTour aims to:
- Strengthen the resilience of small tourism businesses by equipping them with innovative approaches and advanced technologies that enhance operational performance and crisis readiness.
- Build digital, entrepreneurial, and sustainability skills among tourism professionals, enabling businesses to adopt future-oriented practices and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
ReTour will deliver:
- An Innovation Hub that facilitates cross-sector collaboration and knowledge exchange, improving MSMEs’ access to cutting-edge expertise and solutions.
- Tailored Technology Adoption Plans designed to support businesses in integrating smart and digital tools.
- Pilot case studies showcasing and assessing real-world applications of advanced technologies in tourism settings.
- An online training and learning platform, offering certified courses for tourism workers and entrepreneurs.
- Policy recommendation reports to support regional alignment and promote sustainable tourism development.
- Virtual innovation challenges and cross-border exchanges to stimulate creativity, cooperation, and new partnerships.
The ReTour project is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
