On 27 November, the European DETOUR project—of which CRS is a partner—hosted the international webinar “Tourism Diversification and Economic Impact of Walking Routes on SMEs”, bringing together more than 100 professionals from the tourism and cultural sectors from across Europe and beyond. The meeting was moderated by Elena Dubinina, Project Coordinator at the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (AEVF), who guided the session, giving space to international speakers and encouraging active discussion among participants.
Through CRS, a key partner in the project, the Lycian Way once again played a leading role in promoting the importance of walking routes as a driver of sustainable development for destinations and local small businesses.
The webinar opened with a presentation by Alan Vela, Project Adviser at EISMEA, who outlined the main European funding opportunities dedicated to SMEs, with a focus on the COSME and SMP programmes. This was followed by an intervention from Jacopo Bordignon, Senior Project Specialist at UN Tourism’s Europe Department, who presented UN initiatives aimed at supporting small tourism businesses, digitalisation and sector resilience.
With Cornelia Keller, Research Project Manager at ETC Corporate – The European Travel Commission, participants analysed European tourism trends for 2024–2025 and outlooks to 2026, with particular attention to European citizens’ growing preference for short-haul travel and for destinations in Southern and Mediterranean Europe.
Next, Luca Bruschi, DETOUR Project Coordinator at the Municipality of Fidenza, presented emerging opportunities linked to walking routes—an ever-growing sector that is attracting an increasingly young and international audience. Bruschi highlighted the role of the DETOUR project as a catalyst for innovation and sustainable development within the tourism ecosystem. The webinar concluded with a presentation by Çağla Kosova, Project Manager at CRS, who shared the methodology and results of a survey conducted among tourism SMEs in Italy, Greece, Türkiye and Bulgaria.
The event represents a significant milestone for the DETOUR project and marks the conclusion of the “Train the Trainers” programme, developed between August and November 2025, also thanks to CRS’ strong organisational and communication contribution. From January 2026, the project will enter a new phase dedicated to training SMEs, with CRS once again involved in coordinating activities and disseminating innovative practices for the benefit of the territories crossed by the Lycian Way and the other cultural routes involved.
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