Public Call for Grants based on the Competitiveness of the Tourism Industry Program
About this good practice
Public Call for Grants for increasing competitiveness through green and digital transition were given to develop sustainable tourism products, improve processes in the catering business that are acceptable to the environment, develop innovative tourism products and services, and increase the level of circular economy with the max. fin. support of 70%. Main beneficiaries were SMEs registered for catering or tourism services.
Call for grants was provided in 3 main groups:
1.) Restaurants – main acceptable activities were investment in energy-efficient material assets and green transition of catering facilities (e.g. replacement of energy and process-inefficient catering equipment with more efficient equipment, purchase of more energy-efficient heating system, purchase of food waste reduction devices etc.) and investment in digitization and improvement of work processes in the provision of hosting services (IT, communication and audio/video solutions).
2.) Travel agencies, and tour operators - investment in the green transition of the provision of agency services (e.g. equipment related to mountaineering, adventure, recreational, hunting and fishing activities that contribute to the safety of tourists, circular economy etc.), investment in digitization and improvement of agency services (e.g. contactless payment, online ordering, virtual reality, etc.)
3.) Vessels for cruising - investment in the green transition (e.g. investment in seawater desalination equipment on board).
Resources needed
Total funds for the allocation of the Competitiveness of the Tourism Economy Program were 2.647,176 EUR in 2023. An experts working group was created to register the applications, as well an ad hoc Comission for the selection of projects.
Evidence of success
Grants for green and digital transition on a national level were awarded to:
- 114 entrepreneurs in a group of restaurants – the lowest grant for awarding was 6.000 EUR and the highest grant was 25.000 EUR;
- 82 entrepreneurs in group of travel agencies and tour operators – the lowest grant for awarding was 4.000 EUR and the highest grant was 8.000 EUR;
- 30 entrepreneurs in group of vessels for cruising – the lowest grant for awarding was 6.000 EUR and the highest grant was 20.000 EUR.
Potential for learning or transfer
Public Call for Grants for Increasing Competitiveness through green and digital transition is a transferable and successful example of how public initiative can help to private sector because more than 200 MSMEs got grants.
The main criteria for awarding were the contribution of project activities to the green transition of a product or service (energy efficiency, waste reduction, water protection, etc), the contribution of project activities to the digital transition of entrepreneurs (business process innovation, business organization) and social sustainability (accessibility for people with disabilities). All applications were submitted using the online application system.
The criteria that were used for granting the entrepreneurs gave them the opportunity to improve their business and make progress in the transition of digital and green tools in their business. Such type of call can inspire other regions to implement similar processes, learning from and adapting this good practice.
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