Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2025-02-03

Description

Description (EN):

While tourism and the leisure sector play an important role in the region's economy, tourists also put enormous pressure on the resources of the hosting communities. Conflicts on the use of resources such as water, energy and additional waste that burden local infrastructures are major disruptors for the liveability of local communities. As tourism is one of the fastest growing industries, especially on the coastline, pressures are only expected to increase with it, explaining the urgent need to rethink the sector locally and accelerate transition towards sustainable, resource and energy efficient systems. Individual tourism SMEs (hotels, restaurants, campsites, ...) want to act but do not know where to start when it comes to which measures to take, how to finance them, are hindered by obsolete regulations or unclear policies and lack the necessary skills to undertake a transition on their own. 3ST therefore proposes skills development for 2 different target groups. Firstly, to provide the necessary skills to public authorities & sectoral organisations to set up local collaboration models in order to accelerate sustainable transition. Secondly, to use these collaboration models as a means to engage with tourism stakeholders and provide them with the necessary skills to identify and adopt measures that will increase their sustainability in energy/water/waste. 3ST will improve the capacity of stakeholders to implement sustainable tourism models and practices thanks to integrative approaches mixing trainings, coaching and experience with new forms of collaboration and bringing together multiple actors of the value chain: local authorities, DMOs, development agencies, higher education, civil society and SMEs, but also indirectly involved stakeholders (building sector, suppliers, farmers...). Various approaches will be investigated at transnational level and adapted to local specificities, made as accessible as possible, and provide replicable models for the whole NS area.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Introduce and make available new collaboration models for tourism stakeholders. This includes collaborative learning on skills to implement sustainable tourism models (collaboration models, sustainable business models and skills development training) as well as best practices with regard to stakeholder involvement, community-based interventions, skills development and potential solutions for tourism sustainability-based challenges. To experiment, demonstrate, and implement skills development activities by piloting in parallel training schemes as well as collaboration models in undertaking sustainable tourism models and practices to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable tourism sector by focusing on the topics of water, energy and waste. To ensure the durability and upscaling of the project results, their transfer to broader audiences and a long-lasting support to skills development of tourism stakeholders will be tackled in this WP.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/3st

Thematic information

Clustering and economic cooperation Tourism SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-B_NS_1) Priority 1: Robust and smart economies in the North Sea region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.4. Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 023 Skills development for smart specialisation, industrial transition, entrepreneurship and adaptability of enterprises to change

Partners (14)

Lead Partner: Impuls Zeeland

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL81 7994 373 B01

Address: Edisonweg 37 D1, 4382NV Vlissingen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.impulszeeland.nl

Total budget: EUR 625 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 375 450.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 250 300.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Provincie Fryslân

Name: Provincie Fryslân

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 00132821402090

Address: Tweebaksmarkt 52, 8911KZ Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.fryslan.frl

Total budget: EUR 308 350.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 185 010.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 123 340.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stichting Innovatiepact Fryslân

Name: Stichting Innovatiepact Fryslân

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: Turfmarkt 11, 8911KS Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.innovatiepact.frl

Total budget: EUR 130 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 78 450.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 52 300.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Vereniging Circulair Friesland

Name: Vereniging Circulair Friesland

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: Turfmarkt 11, 8911KS Leeuwarden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.circulairfriesland.frl

Total budget: EUR 130 750.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 78 450.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 52 300.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Tønder Erhvervsråd

Name: Tønder Erhvervsråd

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 35174710

Address: Vestergade 9, 6270 Tønder, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://tondererhvervsraad.dk/

Total budget: EUR 129 531.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 77 719.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 51 812.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Westtoer

Name: Westtoer

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0267.388.418

Address: Koning Albert I - laan 120, 8200 Sint-Michiels, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.westtoer.be

Total budget: EUR 439 872.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 263 923.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 175 949.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Visit Skåne AB

Name: Visit Skåne AB

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 556747519801

Address: Dockplatsen 26, 20501 Malmö, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://visitskane.com

Total budget: EUR 464 426.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 278 656.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 185 770.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Tønder Kommune

Name: Tønder Kommune

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29189781

Address: Wegners Plads 2, 6270 Tønder, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.toender.dk

Total budget: EUR 189 885.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 113 931.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 954.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Pas-de-Calais Agence de Développement et de Réservation Touristiques

Name: Pas-de-Calais Agence de Développement et de Réservation Touristiques

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: Route de la Trésorerie, 62126 Wimille, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.pas-de-calais-tourisme.com

Total budget: EUR 187 760.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 112 656.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 104.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Jade Hochschule

Name: Jade Hochschule

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE265902596

Address: Friedrich-Paffrath-Str. 101, 26389 Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.jade-hs.de

Total budget: EUR 439 100.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 263 460.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 175 640.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

HZ University of Applied Sciences

Name: HZ University of Applied Sciences

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL8076.12.558.B.01

Address: Postbus 364, 4382NW Vlissingen, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.kenniscentrumkusttoerisme.nl

Total budget: EUR 318 112.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 190 867.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 127 245.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Destination Fyn (Erhvervshus Fyn P/S)

Name: Destination Fyn (Erhvervshus Fyn P/S)

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 34206228

Address: Munkebjergvænget 1, 5230 Odense M, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.destinationfyn.dk

Total budget: EUR 450 240.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 270 144.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 180 096.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

ADEME, Agence pour la transition écologique

Name: ADEME, Agence pour la transition écologique

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: 200 rue Marceline, 59500 DOUAI, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.ademe.fr

Total budget: EUR 364 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 218 550.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 145 700.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Aalborg Universitet

Name: Aalborg Universitet

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 29102384

Address: Frederik Bajers Vej 5, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.aau.dk

Total budget: EUR 224 291.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 134 575.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 89 716.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Province of Fryslân

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

FoundationsInnovatiepact Fryslân

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Circulair Friesland Association

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Business Development Council of Toender Municipality

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Westtoer

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Visit Skåne AB

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Tønder Municipality

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Pas-de-Calais Tourism

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Jade University of Applied Sciences

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

HZ University of Applied Sciences

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Destination Fyn

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

ADEME, the French ecological transition agency

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Aalborg University

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Impuls Zeeland

Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Project acronym: 3ST

Project ID: goNG68EA6

Project start date: 2023-11-01

Project end date: 2027-02-28

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 403 067.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 641 841.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 641 841.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Design of a common methodology and coaching guidelines to develop collaboration models for sustainable tourism / 3ST uses the Theory of Change (ToC) approach as the overall collaboration learning approach with which the pilot partners can design the necessary interventions to address important sustainability challenges and initiate new collaboration models within their communities. In this activity, the knowledge partners develop the ToC project approach (1 report) and make it fit for application in the pilot regions. Guidelines (1 report) are developed to help Agents of Change formulate their ToC.
Transnational workshops for coordination of pilot development and implementation / This activity ensures the coordination of the different local pilots in a centralised manner. Transnational workshops are organised at pilot milestone moments to: - jointly define common steps and indicators for monitoring (nov 2024), - discuss first learnings (1st phase) and propose readjustments if needed (June 2025), - draw general conclusions and recommendations for solutions uptake (April 2026). Site visits are organised by the hosting partner to deepen transnational learnings.
Organising communication, dissemination and transfer / A joint communication strategy and implementation will be developed to cover various target groups of the project (entrepreneurs, other interested stakeholders,public authorities, own staff, but also guests/tourists). This will look at a joint messaging on sustainability challenges and realisations as well as set up specific communication to ensure transfer. Specific communication products (videos, manuals, site visits...) will be developed in this activity.
Design of 9 draft ToC to develop collaboration models for sustainable tourism / Based on the common ToC methodology developed in the previous activity, pilot partners draft outlines for a ToC for the 9 pilot regions (9 ToC). To do so, they identify specific local tourism challenges, relevant key stakeholders and changes and skills needed to address the challenges. Pilots partners are supported by the knowledge partners who give masterclasses, actively follow up on their ToC process and organise problem-solving meetings and milestone events held at the end of each ToC phase.
Strategy for stakeholder engagement in pilots / Partners roll out the strategy from 1.3 into a very practical action plan to engage stakeholders in participating in their pilots. A common methodology is developed based on collective sensemaking techniques. Pilot partners then adapt their engagement approach to reach the different types of stakeholders they identified. They design open procedures to reach relevant tourism entrepreneurs. Stakeholders engaged in WP1 will be encouraged to participate in local collaboration models.
Transnational consolidation workshop 3ST lessons / The project communication working group will organise a transnational partner and expert workshop in order to discuss the lessons learned and best practice from the 3ST project. This will result in the main structure and materials to be gathered for the 3ST best practice catalogue which aims to ensure the long term implementation and transfer of the collaboration models and the best practices gathered from the 9 pilot areas.
Create wider stakeholder engagement and commitment / Partners develop 1 joint strategy to engage a wider group of stakeholders (e.g. other tourism organisations, regional and local governments, NGOs, academia, tourism entrepreneurs and citizens) that are key to involve in the analysis and intervention design process (see 1.5 and 1.6) This activity includes the drafting of a common communication and engagement approach. Pilot partners then adapt this approach to reach the different types of stakeholders identified in the previous activity.
Delivering training activities for support organisations / As preparation to pilot implementation training will be delivered to local internal and external stakeholders (9 training activities) facilitating sustainability in the tourism sector (support organisations, DMOs, local authorities, sectoral organisations). Within partner organisations internal training will also ensure skills uptake among those who are not 'change agents', to ensure sufficient knowledge and understanding to better perform their support tasks.
Internal change management support / To ensure the integration of the project productions (WP2) in standard practices and make sure that the support that partners will deliver to stakeholders will stem from the project outcomes, this activity will focus on sharing a strategy on change management methods and techniques, ensuring that the training, coaching and collaborative approaches are fully integrated in the partners' daily practices when working with tourism stakeholders.
Analysis of best practices on collaboration models and skills development / This activity focuses on prior knowledge on collaboration strategies, training schemes and skills development whose benefits and drawbacks have been previously tested and validated (e.g. in FACET, PROFIT, SEACARE and PROWAD Link projects).The knowledge partners will bring together different challenges and themes in the field of sustainability, considering sectors undertaking the same transition. In this way the evidence-based for the ToC action plans will increase.
Test phase 1 local chain (quadruple helix) cooperation / Based on WP1 developed models, pilot partners will support the implementation of one or multiple collaboration models with the aim of increasing the uptake of sustainable solutions on the topics of waste, water and energy and supporting the empowerment of tourism stakeholders in undertaking joint actions. Pilots will include training/coaching activities for skills acquisition. This first phase will run from December 2024 until May 2025 and will end with a transnational workshop in June 2025.
Ongoing dissemination / Stakeholders and associated organisations in the pilot activities (municipalities, business support organisations, other) will be asked to share their experience on their participation in the pilot at least once a year (3 years x 9 pilots: 27) by making use of existing exchange networks (meetings with other municipalities, tourism fairs, other events). Knowledge partners will also make us of scientific publications and conferences to share the 3ST findings and disseminate conclusions.
Validation 9 ToC including identification motivation, hindrances and opportunities to the uptake of sustainable tourism practices / Pilot partners and key stakeholders identify local motivation, hindrances and opportunities to the uptake of sustainable tourism practices by questioning local experts and analysing past experiences in the area. The knowledge partners will support this local knowledge creation process by targeted masterclasses, the organisation of sensemaking workshops and feedback loops. This will result in 9 validated ToC that focus on how change can be achieved in the 9 pilot areas' communities.
Test phase 2 local chain (quadruple helix) cooperation / After a joint evaluation of the 1st testing phase, pilot partners can decide to continue their pilot in a second phase or modify their pilot and work around a different topic or with different stakeholders. The definition of testing phase 2 will jointly happen over summer so that the second phase can start after the summer season in 2025. The 2nd testing phase will end with a final transnational workshop in April 2026.
Pilot showcases / A series of events (1 per pilot area) will be organised around the outcomes of the pilots collaborations launched by the partners to showcase the realisations of the approach as well as the overall process. The target groups will be all the members of the local chain. The transnational partners will assist to and contribute to the showcases with presentations and videos. The purpose is to inspire, learn and ensure the sustainability of the local collaboration models.
Monitoring and evaluation of activities (9 pilots + 1 consolidated monitoring report) / Each of the pilot components will be jointly monitored and evaluated by all partners, including the impact on energy, water and waste for each of the pilots. The efficiency of trainings will be measured and the process and content adapted. Established collaboration groups will be analysed as well as the efficacy of models in different contexts. A final evaluation will carry a more in-depth analysis enablers for interdependent value creation and scalability of new collaboration models.
Transferability to other regions within the NSR / Once trainings, coaching methods, collaboration models and platform have been developed and tested with the project partners and direct stakeholders, other stakeholders from the other regions within the NSR (6 countries) will be informed. This will happen through transnational networks (tourism platforms, network organisations) and videos will be produced to inspire other regions. Partners will make use of existing local events to promote the transnational learnings and showcase the project.
Design of quadruple-helix collaboration models / This activity focuses on the actual design of regional context specific models for potentially successful quadruple helix collaboration (1 for each pilot area involved). Through a series of design activities best practice collaboration models will be adapted to the local specificities and relevant stakeholders Those models are piloted in WP2 and inform the development of finalised models to be disseminated and transferred.
Stakeholders satisfaction on methodology / To ensure that the methodology has been performed in a qualitative manner, an evaluation will take place through group evaluation sessions. This will inform the project not only on the impact but also on how active stakeholders have experienced the pilot implementation. Stakeholders will voluntarily give testimonies on their experience to be disseminated to similar organisations.
Final dissemination event / This activity will ensure that tourism development actors and strategic policy makers are informed about the outcomes of the 3ST project. There will be a broad dissemination of the strategy (WP1), showcasing of the very practical pilots (WP2) and especially the long term implementation support strategy (WP3) which will take the format of a best practice catalogue. Partners will potentially link the event to a major existing tourism event to reach a maximum of stakeholders.
Design of training programmes for different types of stakeholders / Based on earlier analysis in WP 1, training schemes for public authorities and sectoral organisations are developed including common modules and modules adapted to local contexts (9 reports). The training activities support successful implementation of the collaboration models. They enable partners and stakeholders participating in 3ST to develop the necessary skills to participate in the value creating actions. The trainings will be tested in WP2 and adjusted after a first return on experience.
Finalisation of the project outcomes / Based on the internal (2.6) and stakeholder evaluations (2.7), the project trainings, collaboration models, as well as coaching methods will be updated and finalised into definitive versions (9 updated ToC) that will be uploaded on the WP1 platform as well as actively transferred in WP3. Regular information updates will take place during the duration of the project and at its completion for project partners to integrate these outcomes in their daily work.
Analysis of sustainable tourism indicators and monitoring / Desk research is performed by knowledge partners into KPIs and best practices for monitoring both process and results of the new collaborations including the skills development. Based on the developed KPI library, a monitoring plan is created. This will be an essential part of the strategy as output in this WP.
Pilot dissemination / To attract more stakeholders into participating and adopting the models developed and tested in the pilots, local events will be organised to present the project results in direction of the tourism sector and other sectors (retails, building...). Tourism professionals will be targeted to open the training and coaching activities to a broader audience. Primary target group of WP2 remains local stakeholders as the purpose is to ensure the durability of the local collaboration models.
Setting up a knowledge platform / An opensource, transnational platform will be created as part of existing platforms currently hosted by the knowledge partners. The platform will gather scientific knowledge and guidance documents to feed current research on sustainability in the tourism sector. The platform can then be used as a data source to insert transnational learnings and to inform on the evaluation and monitoring of the 3ST tested sustainable tourism models.
Dissemination of strategy and models / The findings on sustainable tourism practices and models, as well as the knowledge platform will be disseminated through multiple communication channels, including via social media posts, articles on the project website and via practitioner or academic conferences. The partners will also use their own channels to target their local stakeholders and relevant network.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

The 3ST project will contribute in a direct manner to the Green Deal by targeting the transition of the tourism sector by focusing on re-using and reducing energy and water consumption and waste production. The tourism sector has a major potential to reduce their environmental footprint and work towards a better use of resources. The 4 pillars of the Green Deal are also strategic elements in 3ST; simplified regulatory environment, access to finance, enhancing skills and resilient supply chains.
The 3ST project will contribute in a direct manner to the Green Deal by targeting the transition of the tourism sector by focusing on re-using and reducing energy and water consumption and waste production. The tourism sector has a major potential to reduce their environmental footprint and work towards a better use of resources. The 4 pillars of the Green Deal are also strategic elements in 3ST; simplified regulatory environment, access to finance, enhancing skills and resilient supply chains.
Skills is one of the seven defined building blocks in the Transition pathway for tourism, which provides action steps for the tourism ecosystem to become resilient. 3ST contributes to the green and digital transition priority by speeding up green skills through tourism-specific trainings. 3ST is also of added value to the resilience priority, which supports both entrepreneurship and governance skills, including sustainability and strategic collaborative governance of tourism ecosystem.
3ST will answer to two of the five priority areas of the European agenda for tourism 2030. Firstly through the "green transition" priority, by supporting pilots which develop models and transferable practices for sustainable tourism. Secondly through the "skills and support for transition" priority, by establishing regional and local skills partnerships which actively encourage skills development and provide training opportunities.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 2
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 9

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-02-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

791 / 791 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Speeding up Sustainability Skills in Tourism [FA]

Description

Thematic information

Partners (14)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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