DETOUR, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), empowers tourism SMEs along European walking routes by accelerating their green and digital transition and reinforcing their role in sustainable and resilient tourism. From 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2027, it is developing a replicable model to strengthen rural tourism ecosystems along long-distance trails: the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountain trails of Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultan's Trail & Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. DETOUR delivers long-term benefits for walkers and businesses by improving sustainability, extending seasonality beyond peak periods, and digitalising market access. It contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. The project delivers three integrated actions. First, a “Train the Trainers” programme equips key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye and Bulgaria with practical expertise in sustainability and digital tools, enabling local knowledge sharing. Second, tailored training for tourism SMEs strengthens innovation capacity and digital skills, helping enterprises become more efficient and competitive. Third, cascade funding supports innovative SME-led projects, enabling companies to implement concrete solutions that enhance competitiveness and resilience along the routes. Coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, DETOUR is delivered by route managers and knowledge-transfer partners, including Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Training 2000 Piccola SC, the Mediterranean Center for the Environment, and the Management Organization of the Thrace Tourist Region.

The DETOUR project, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to empower tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located along European walking routes by supporting their green and digital transition — strengthening their role as key drivers of sustainable, innovative, and resilient tourism development. The project (1 November 2024 - 31 October 2027) is building a replicable model to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural areas along long-distance routes — the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountainous trails in Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultans Trail / Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. The project ensures long-term benefits for walkers and SMEs by advancing the green transition, extending seasonality, and digitalising market access. In doing so, DETOUR contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. DETOUR focuses on empowering tourism SMEs along Mediterranean walking routes through three key actions. First, it delivers a “Train the Trainers” programme for key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to build expertise in green and digital transition and ensure the knowledge-sharing activities. Secondly, it provides tailored training to tourism SMEs to strengthen their sustainability, innovation, and digital skills. Finally, it offers cascade funding for innovative projects, supporting SMEs in implementing concrete solutions that enhance their competitiveness and resilience. The project, coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, has a strong consortium of route managers and innovation and knowledge-transfer organisations such as Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (Antaly

The DETOUR project, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to empower tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located along European walking routes by supporting their green and digital transition — strengthening their role as key drivers of sustainable, innovative, and resilient tourism development. The project (1 November 2024 - 31 October 2027) is building a replicable model to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural areas along long-distance routes — the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountainous trails in Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultans Trail / Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. The project ensures long-term benefits for walkers and SMEs by advancing the green transition, extending seasonality, and digitalising market access. In doing so, DETOUR contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. DETOUR focuses on empowering tourism SMEs along Mediterranean walking routes through three key actions. First, it delivers a “Train the Trainers” programme for key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to build expertise in green and digital transition and ensure the knowledge-sharing activities. Secondly, it provides tailored training to tourism SMEs to strengthen their sustainability, innovation, and digital skills. Finally, it offers cascade funding for innovative projects, supporting SMEs in implementing concrete solutions that enhance their competitiveness and resilience. The project, coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, has a strong consortium of route managers and innovation and knowledge-transfer organisations such as Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (Antaly

The DETOUR project, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to empower tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located along European walking routes by supporting their green and digital transition — strengthening their role as key drivers of sustainable, innovative, and resilient tourism development. The project (1 November 2024 - 31 October 2027) is building a replicable model to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural areas along long-distance routes — the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountainous trails in Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultans Trail / Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. The project ensures long-term benefits for walkers and SMEs by advancing the green transition, extending seasonality, and digitalising market access. In doing so, DETOUR contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. DETOUR focuses on empowering tourism SMEs along Mediterranean walking routes through three key actions. First, it delivers a “Train the Trainers” programme for key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to build expertise in green and digital transition and ensure the knowledge-sharing activities. Secondly, it provides tailored training to tourism SMEs to strengthen their sustainability, innovation, and digital skills. Finally, it offers cascade funding for innovative projects, supporting SMEs in implementing concrete solutions that enhance their competitiveness and resilience. The project, coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, has a strong consortium of route managers and innovation and knowledge-transfer organisations such as Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (Antaly

The DETOUR project, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to empower tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located along European walking routes by supporting their green and digital transition — strengthening their role as key drivers of sustainable, innovative, and resilient tourism development. The project (1 November 2024 - 31 October 2027) is building a replicable model to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural areas along long-distance routes — the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountainous trails in Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultans Trail / Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. The project ensures long-term benefits for walkers and SMEs by advancing the green transition, extending seasonality, and digitalising market access. In doing so, DETOUR contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. DETOUR focuses on empowering tourism SMEs along Mediterranean walking routes through three key actions. First, it delivers a “Train the Trainers” programme for key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to build expertise in green and digital transition and ensure the knowledge-sharing activities. Secondly, it provides tailored training to tourism SMEs to strengthen their sustainability, innovation, and digital skills. Finally, it offers cascade funding for innovative projects, supporting SMEs in implementing concrete solutions that enhance their competitiveness and resilience. The project, coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, has a strong consortium of route managers and innovation and knowledge-transfer organisations such as Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (Antaly

The DETOUR project, co-funded by the European Union under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to empower tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located along European walking routes by supporting their green and digital transition — strengthening their role as key drivers of sustainable, innovative, and resilient tourism development. The project (1 November 2024 - 31 October 2027) is building a replicable model to strengthen local tourism ecosystems in rural areas along long-distance routes — the Via Francigena in Italy, the Lycian Way in Türkiye, the Greek mountainous trails in Olympus, Kissavos and Mavrovouni, and the Sultans Trail / Thrace Tourism Region in Bulgaria. The project ensures long-term benefits for walkers and SMEs by advancing the green transition, extending seasonality, and digitalising market access. In doing so, DETOUR contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting decent work and inclusive growth, responsible production, climate action, nature protection, and partnerships. DETOUR focuses on empowering tourism SMEs along Mediterranean walking routes through three key actions. First, it delivers a “Train the Trainers” programme for key tourism stakeholders in Italy, Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria to build expertise in green and digital transition and ensure the knowledge-sharing activities. Secondly, it provides tailored training to tourism SMEs to strengthen their sustainability, innovation, and digital skills. Finally, it offers cascade funding for innovative projects, supporting SMEs in implementing concrete solutions that enhance their competitiveness and resilience. The project, coordinated by the Municipality of Fidenza, has a strong consortium of route managers and innovation and knowledge-transfer organisations such as Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene, Culture Routes Society – Kultur Rotalari Dernegi, DMO Es.Co. Esquilino Comunità – La Porta di Roma, Antalya İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü (Antaly

Horizon 2020 project, funded by the European Commission, promotes cultural heritage in the vicinity of historic pilgrimage routes and facilitates economic and social impact of sustainable tourism in rural areas. The project started on 1 January 2021 and has a duration of 36 months, while its main phases include identification of pilot areas and relevant heritage sites, definition of common and communication strategies in each pilot area, and design and promotion of a technological platform. The rurAllure works on the identification and promotion of cultural heritage, located along the historic ways in four pilot areas (Santiago de Compostela, Via Francigena, Via Romea Germanica, Via Romea Strata, St. Olav Ways and Way of Mary), with a focus on its rural and less touristic parts. Mapping heritage landmarks along the pilgrimage routes, the project develops a digital repository of cultural points of interest which guides hikers and pilgrims along the routes and helps them to discover heritage without significantly deviating from the original route. The project contributes to 17 Sustainable Development Goals with emphasis on SDG n.3, n.8, n.9, n.11, n.13, n.17. In particular, it adds value to local economies, extracting benefits from responsible use of heritage and creating well-being with the least amount of environmental harm. As 80% of the trails’ territory lie in rural areas, the project provides a favourable environment for tourism enterprises in provincial localities, empowers local communities, promotes local culture and products. In addition, it valorises healthy lifestyle and reduces the risk of acquiring various diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Walking or cycling in the natural surroundings together with fellow ramblers helps to stimulate mental health and socialisation, reduce the risk of depression, and improve sleep quality and self-esteem.

The Via Francigena is one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in the world, spanning centuries of history and stretching along 3200 kilometres in the UK, France, Switzerland and Italy. In 1994, the route was awarded 'Cultural Route of the Council of Europe' status in recognition of its role in promoting common European values. The European Association of the Via Francigena ways (EAVF) acts as a promoter and policy-maker of the route and organises its activities in line with 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Today, especially in the post-pandemic context, where walking tourism is as ever an important tool of sustainable tourism development, it produces positive impact in the following dimensions: Environmental impact. Pilgrimage tourism refers to walking and cycling activity, which means consuming no fuel and leaving a smaller carbon footprint compared to other types of travel. As part of its promotional activities the EAVF pays special attention to valorisation of responsible tourism, safeguarding biodiversity and local environment. Economic impact. The Via Francigena route connects major urban centres with rural areas. The economic benefits generated by increasing flows of pilgrims are spread throughout the entire itinerary, creating income opportunities and improving the quality of life of local communities along the route. The EAVF and partners coordinate to maximise the economic impact and shift attention away from overcrowded tourist destinations to lesser known but culturally rich regions. Socio-cultural impact. As part of the Council of Europe's framework of Cultural Routes, the Via Francigena promotes intercultural understanding and tolerance, strengthens social cohesion and dialogue by transmitting the values of human rights, cultural diversity and mutual exchange across borders. It brings together walking enthusiasts from all over the world, encourages them to discover new cultures, connect with local people, share experiences and stories.