SUSTOUR Alliance – Sustainable Cross-Border Tourism Development and Cultural Alliance – Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-A

SUSTOUR Alliance – Sustainable Cross-Border Tourism Development and Cultural Alliance

Acronym: SUSTOUR Alliance
Start Date: 29/06/2026
End Date: 28/06/2028
Call: 1ST CALL_CALL FOR COMMON PROJECT PROPOSALS - STAGE B
Type: Ordinary

Priority

PRIORITY 3 - A more Inclusive Greece-Bulgaria Cross Border Territory

Policy Objective

04 - A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Specific Objective

RSO4.2. Improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through developing accessible infrastructure, including by fostering resilience for distance and on-line education and training

Intervention Field

145. Support for the development of digital skills

Project Description

Summary

SUSTOUR Alliance is a cross-border initiative promoting sustainable tourism, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece.

Building on the region’s shared cultural, historical, and natural heritage, the project creates a common sustainable tourism model that strengthens cooperation between Mineralni Bani and Thessaloniki, increases visitor mobility, and enhances the visibility of the region’s unique cultural and historical assets. To support sustainable tourism development, the partners address challenges such as limited cooperation, low tourist flows, and underused tourism resources.

A key achievement is the creation of two modern shared tourist spaces in Bulgaria and Greece, offering accessible tourism services and innovative cultural heritage experiences. The project also develops a joint sustainable tourism product and supports local tourism stakeholders through training, educational materials, digital tools, and cross-border forums that promote knowledge exchange and good practices.

Expected Results

The SUSTOUR Alliance project delivers significant results supporting sustainable tourism and cross-border cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria. Key achievements include:

Creation of a joint sustainable tourism product highlighting the shared cultural and historical heritage of the cross-border region.
Establishment and operation of two fully equipped shared tourist spaces (one in Greece and one in Bulgaria), providing accessible and sustainable tourism services.
Improvement of accessibility and support for sustainable tourism through the creation of new jobs.
Training of participants from various target groups and strengthening local capacities in sustainable tourism.
Development of educational and electronic resources for tourism stakeholders, including eight training modules on environmental and social sustainability and dedicated materials for tourism SMEs.
Organisation of cross-border forums, workshops, green schools, and policy events promoting knowledge exchange, sustainable tourism practices, and community engagement.
Production of promotional materials, media publications, videos, press conferences, and communication activities to increase the visibility of the project and the tourism destinations involved.
Development of an Action Plan for tourism development, a Quality Assurance Strategy, and an Evaluation Study to support long-term sustainability and replication of project results.

By fostering cooperation, enhancing tourism services, and promoting sustainable development, the project contributes to the long-term competitiveness and attractiveness of the Greece–Bulgaria cross-border region.

Expected Outcomes

Key outputs include the establishment of two modern multifunctional tourist spaces, one in Greece and one in Bulgaria, serving as tourist information centres, cultural hubs, and interactive exhibition venues. These facilities are equipped with innovative technologies and accessibility features, ensuring inclusive and engaging visitor experiences.

The project also strengthens local capacities through training activities, workshops, educational materials, and digital tools focused on sustainable tourism, accessibility, strategic planning, and the use of innovative technologies. A joint cross-border Sustainable Tourism Action Plan and promotional materials further support the long-term development and visibility of the participating destinations.

Additional outputs include cross-border forums, networking events, and stakeholder meetings, fostering knowledge exchange, cooperation, and the transfer of good practices between tourism stakeholders in both countries. By enhancing tourism infrastructure, promoting cultural heritage, and supporting sustainable tourism practices, the project contributes to stronger cross-border tourism networks, greater social inclusion, and improved economic opportunities in the region.

The main beneficiaries are tourists and visitors, local communities, tourism SMEs and operators, municipalities and public authorities, educational institutions, NGOs, and persons with disabilities, who will benefit from improved services, increased accessibility, and new opportunities for collaboration and development.

Budget

Total:
1.641.531€ERDF:
1.313.225€National Funds:
328.306€Private Funds:
0€

Partnership

	Type	Country	Location of Activities
MUNICIPALITY OF MINERALNI BANI	Public	Bulgaria	BG422 - Haskovo
FOUNDATION OF THE MUSEUM OF THE MACEDONIAN STRUGGLE & THE MODERN HISTORY OF MACEDONIA	NGO / Non-Profit Organization	Greece	EL522 - Thessaloniki
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY TECHNOPOLIS THESSALONIKIS SA	Private	Greece	EL522 - Thessaloniki

Location of Activities

Social Media

Events

News

Multimedia

Distinctions

Keywords

MIS 6010696 , sustainable tourism, cultural exchange, historical, cultural, natural heritage, sustainable tourism model

Deliverables

No Deliverables for that Project