On 28 May 2025, the ICHEC Business School in Brussels hosted a vibrant and future-focused event bringing together over 100 participants, both in person and online. Tourism professionals, MSMEs, policymakers, and project leaders from across Europe gathered for the Final Multiplier Event of the ECOTOURS and TRACE projects—a day not just to celebrate results, but to spark new alliances for the green and digital transition of the tourism sector.
Both ECOTOURS and TRACE, co-funded by the European Union, share a common ambition: to make tourism more sustainable, circular, and inclusive. While TRACE focused on promoting environmental certification and micro-credentials for tourism SMEs, ECOTOURS explored ways to foster community-based and circular tourism through local partnerships and training.
Throughout the event, participants discovered the practical outcomes of both projects—digital tools for sustainable tourism operators, experiential itineraries co-designed with local actors, and innovative learning paths to boost green skills in the sector. MSMEs and training providers offered first-hand testimonials on how these initiatives enhanced their work and supported sustainability transitions in their communities.
One of the most significant moments of the day was the participatory session leading to the co-design of a Transnational Collaboration Agreement, a shared commitment to continue collaboration beyond the project’s life. This protocol lays the foundation for a Permanent Circular and Community-Based Tourism Innovation Network, connecting actors from across Europe to share practices, launch joint actions, and strengthen sustainable tourism ecosystems.
The Brussels event was not only a moment of reflection but of momentum. It generated synergies among a wide array of stakeholders and helped set the stage for long-term cooperation, reinforcing the idea that sustainable tourism is a shared journey, one that ECOTOURS and TRACE helped bring into motion.
👉 Discover the Transnational Collaboration Agreement and join the network
ECOTOURS and TRACE are projects Co-Funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme managed by EISMEA.