The ECO-SEAROUTES project officially launched with its kick-off meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus, on October 9, 2025, bringing together representatives from 10 partner organizations across seven Mediterranean countries. The meeting marked the beginning of an ambitious 33-month journey to transform coastal tourism in the Mediterranean.
Marinas Over Mega-Ports: A Sustainable Choice
The ECO-SEAROUTES partnership gathered for a pivotal meeting that shaped the project’s strategic direction and clarified its positioning within the sustainable tourism landscape. Partners engaged in substantive discussions about the project’s scope, recent networking achievements, and the growing international interest in its innovative model.
A defining decision emerged from these discussions: the partnership agreed to focus on marinas and small ports while deliberately excluding large cruise terminals. This choice reinforces ECO-SEAROUTES’ commitment to authentic sustainable tourism and distinguishes it from initiatives that accommodate mass tourism under the banner of environmental responsibility.
The meeting also reviewed encouraging developments from the recent Interreg Euro-MED Sustainable Tourism Community event in Tirana, where ECO-SEAROUTES representatives connected with 21 sister projects pursuing similar objectives. Beyond Europe, the project’s model is attracting international attention. Both the Arab League and Portuguese Islands associations have expressed interest in adapting the ECO-SEAROUTES approach for their own territories, signaling the potential for wider replication of the project’s sustainable nautical tourism framework.
From Ancient Routes to Modern Solutions
The consortium expanded its cultural framework beyond a single heritage narrative, choosing instead to celebrate all ancient Mediterranean civilizations that shaped seafaring traditions. The focus shifts from reproducing historical nautical routes to understanding how Mediterranean maritime culture evolved across centuries — a conceptual approach that resonates with contemporary sustainability challenges.
The agenda moved through intensive technical work sessions covering all four work packages. Partners examined detailed presentations on sustainable port guidelines, stakeholder engagement methodologies, and the framework for establishing Community Heritage Hubs. Each organization pledged to conduct local expert consultations over the coming months, ensuring that on-the-ground expertise shapes project outcomes.
As the meeting drew to a close, a structured timeline took form: stakeholder engagement calls will launch by early 2026, followed by local workshops throughout spring. The partnership will reconvene in March 2026 in Selinunte, Sicily, for the next transnational meeting.
With the subsidy contract now signed and implementation gaining momentum, ECO-SEAROUTES is charting a deliberate course toward reshaping Mediterranean coastal tourism along more sustainable lines.
