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Sustainable Tourism and Mobility Hand by Hand Development
Published on 17 February 2022
Greece
Kentriki Makedonia
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About this good practice
Due to Covid-19 pandemic people’s daily life changed a lot. Sectors mostly affected are transport&tourism. In accordance with the government’s restrictions, people reduced travelling and the use of public transport trying to avoid the spread of the virus and cities displayed a behavioral change towards alternative transport modes. Seeking for positive insight in the Covid-19 situation, the SUSTOURISMO project is an opportunity for people to enjoy travelling and feel safe again. The SUSTOURISMO app and touristic packages were developed to meet the tourists’ needs (safety) and boost sustainable mobility in touristic regions. Regarding Thessaloniki, the app offers visitors the opportunity to:
get in touch with the city
travel to/from points of interest using active modes of transport
make proposals for the provided services in order to feel safe during their travel
participate in touristic packages and discover i) the Byzantine aspect of Thessaloniki through a walking tour while further exploring the city by bike and ii) the gastronomic culture through a walking talking tour while further exploring the city by sea transport.
All of the mentioned modes of transport provide sustainable and active mobility and contribute to the reduction of virus’ spread as if by using the public transport or the car. For the app’s/packages’ promotion, Thessaloniki’s Tourism Organization, hotels, tour guiding, bike sharing and sea transport companies were engaged.
get in touch with the city
travel to/from points of interest using active modes of transport
make proposals for the provided services in order to feel safe during their travel
participate in touristic packages and discover i) the Byzantine aspect of Thessaloniki through a walking tour while further exploring the city by bike and ii) the gastronomic culture through a walking talking tour while further exploring the city by sea transport.
All of the mentioned modes of transport provide sustainable and active mobility and contribute to the reduction of virus’ spread as if by using the public transport or the car. For the app’s/packages’ promotion, Thessaloniki’s Tourism Organization, hotels, tour guiding, bike sharing and sea transport companies were engaged.
Resources needed
The programme is funded by INTERREG-V-B Adriatic Ionian ADRION Programme 2014-2020.
(The app’s development is estimated at approximately 20.000€)
(The app’s development is estimated at approximately 20.000€)
Evidence of success
For achieving sustainable tourism via sustainable mobility, Thessaloniki’s pilot promotes the use of alternative transport modes, avoiding crowded modes, providing visitors with free walking, cycling as well as short cruises to Thessaloniki’s nearby beautiful beaches located at the east part of the city. So far and due to Covid-19 restrictions, low participation has been noticed, however, first impressions and evidence show that such initiatives are more than welcomed by users.
Potential for learning or transfer
SUSTOURISMO pilot activities are designed so as to be easily transferable to other regions presenting similar characteristics with all pilot cases participating in the project while also cover new needs arising from the Covid-19 restrictions in terms of mobility. The SUSTOURISMO app and its functionalities (tourism and mobility information provision, interactive learning environment for sustainable tourism-mobility awareness raising, touristic packages information and provision, etc.) have been developed in a simple architecture easily extended and able to be customized to specific cases. The design and implementation of integrated tourism - mobility packages under the support of respective collaboration schemes that have come to internal agreements, have also been made under a transnational spectrum (respecting principle needs per stakeholder category). Finally, the network that will be developed under the project will be open to all interested parties in and outside ADRION region.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
CERTH
Greece
Kentriki Makedonia
Contact
Research Associate