ALternative tourism in MEditerranean Regions (ALMERE). Forms of sustainable tourism, contributing to mutual understanding, mutual respect, and empathy between visitors and guests Erasmus Project

Project Title

ALternative tourism in MEditerranean Regions (ALMERE). Forms of sustainable tourism, contributing to mutual understanding, mutual respect, and empathy between visitors and guests

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Rural development and urbanisation; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

Tourism is a very popular way of resting, of entertaining and, possibly, of acquainting with cultures, customs, human behaviors, etc., which is also a major source of revenue for tourism countries. In modern times, tourism has evolved into a massive and one-dimensional “tourism industry” massively developing in certain regions of the tourist country and at certain periods of the year. It is dominated by all-inclusive holiday “packages” in large hotels and resorts, but also with adverse effects on the social level (economic and social life of permanent residents and workers, often with limited labor rights, is depended largely on it), on the local culture, and on the natural environment. The changing living conditions in recent years have caused changes in the tourism structure in many areas. Changes in the trends of touristic consumers towards their travel destinations in global tourism force touristic destinations to develop new and alternative tourist products in order to meet these changes. In this context, alternative tourism is defined as a tourism form that is in harmony with nature, social values and the values of local people, allows the positive relationship of both visitors and local people, and enables them to share their experiences. Gradually, a global trend has been created towards the development of human and natural forms of tourism (cultural tourism, hiking tourism, conference tourism, city-breaks tourism, agritourism, etc.), targeting to sustainable tourism development, which is not restricted to certain regions of a country and during particular year periods, but a tourism which is feasible in every region of a country and throughout the year. Alternative tourism is the opposite form of mass tourism. In Europe, the term “alternative tourism” was used to determine touristic activities aiming at regional development of all the areas of a country, creating alternative income for economically disadvantaged categories of citizens, encourages interaction with the local environment, people and communities and, of course, touristic activities environmentally friendly to the habitats and the ecosystems.
The main purpose of this project is to create awareness and mutual understanding to alternative tourism resources in the Mediterranean countries, which are adversely affected by mass tourism movements. In addition, to organize activities aimed at raising awareness of local people and visitors for alternative tourism resources in Mediterranean countries. And to create a network between citizens who interested in relevant alternative tourism activities within the Mediterranean countries. Through this project, we can create a tourism guide for alternative tourism resources, that aims to share information and good practices between citizens of the Mediterranean countries. In these case; we expected that to deeper exploration, appreciation and, protection of natural environment; to interact between humans and cultural monuments; to understand of manners and customs, traditions, behaviors; so support regional economies (rural areas, mountainous villages, small and isolated areas; to tackle the problem of seasonal tourism and, to discover of “hidden points” of a city. The partners of this project 5 organizations from the Mediterranean countries which Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Slovenia are expertise in fields of tourism and adult education and are willing to share their experiences and practices. Also, the selected participant organization located in the Mediterranean region which negatively effected by mass tourism activities.
The project aims to reach out to 500-600 people directly as well as up to 300-400 people indirectly.
For the achievement of the project, there will be precise planning with a clear division of responsibilities and detailed control and coordination. Each partner will determine from the outset who will be responsible for each action and will receive frequent feedback on the process. The coordinator will supervise and be responsible for information such as the exact timetable, funding, agreements, etc. Five transnational meetings that will be reported by the coordinator will be used to establish face to face contact, review the project progress and for training and workshop purposes.
The main product will be the compendium to have all the materials covering surveys, good practices, case study, SWOT analysis, etc. This Compendium will be available online on the project’s website, on the partner organizations’ websites and FB pages and thus, available to many people inside and outside this project. An online platform for this project with all the material will be installed. A list of members will be created, information and the possible involvement of other organizations and associations will be empowered. Another expected result of this project is to create the Mediterranean and an EU network of Alternative Tourism Activities participants to exchange their experiences.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 60480 Eur

Project Coordinator

AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY & Country: TR

Project Partners

• UNIONE DEGLI ASSESSORATI ALLE POLITICHE SOCIO-SANITARIE, DELL ISTRUZIONE E DEL LAVORO
• Associació Educativa i Cultural Blue Beehive
• Naturefriends Greece
• Razvojna agencija Sotla