Seventeen Cohesion Policy cooperation programmes are now reshaping tourism across the Mediterranean Basin, backed by more than €2 billion in EU funding. The initiative targets three converging problems: climate change, overtourism, and environmental degradation in the world’s most visited coastal region.
Several projects are already running. NA-Tour4CChange is testing cooperative governance models and climate strategies in coastal areas. Community4Tourism links stakeholders from Algeria to Türkiye to coordinate policy across borders. The Mediterranean Multi-Programme Mechanism connects eight Interreg programmes, among them TOURISMO, which uses digital tools to manage visitor flows.
According to the European Commission, these projects function as more than economic catalysts — they also support youth empowerment and regional integration.
The initiative was discussed at the “Paths That Last” conference in Split, Croatia, where stakeholders examined shared governance models focused on participatory decision-making and youth leadership.
Source: European Commission / EU Tourism Platform, Mediterranean Tourism Set to Embrace Sustainability and Resilience: https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/tourism/news/mediterranean-tourism-set-embrace-sustainability-and-resilience
