The project CRAFT-TOUR aims to bridge Europe’s cultural heritage crafts sector with sustainable tourism development, creating new opportunities for artisans, SMEs, and local communities. By fostering innovation, digitalisation, and cross-border collaboration, the project will strengthen the resilience of the craft sector while enriching Europe’s tourism offer with authentic, high-quality experiences.
The project addresses the dual challenge of declining traditional crafts and the need for sustainable tourism diversification, aligning with the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism, the SME Strategy, and the European Green Deal. Through a bottom-up approach, CRAFT-TOUR will empower local craft enterprises and creative entrepreneurs to co-design innovative tourism experiences, enhance their digital presence, and access new markets.
Project objectives
The project aims to support craftsmen and promote handicraft products and enhance the attractiveness and competitiveness of Europe’s tourism offerings built around cultural heritage. The project objectives are:
(1) To preserve and promote Europe’s artisanal heritage by empowering craftspeople with new skills and markets.
(2) To boost tourism in craft-rich regions by creating authentic experiences and products for visitors.
(3) To foster transnational collaboration and knowledge exchange among craftsmen and tourism stakeholders.
Project activities
Over 24 months, CRAFT-TOUR will implement a structured programme including:
• Mapping and capacity-building for crafts and tourism stakeholders.
• Open calls for artisans/SMEs (financial support for third parties – FSTP) to pilot cross-border craft-tourism products and services.
• Digital tools and platforms to enhance visibility and market access.
• Policy engagement and dissemination to embed results into regional and EU strategies.
Project results
1. Open calls for sub-grants: the consortium will launch two transparent calls – one for individual craftspeople (30 small grants between €5,000–€25,000 for artisans) and one for 10 collaborative craft-tourism projects (larger grants, €15,000–€35,000).
2. The consortium’s business support organizations (BSOs) will provide mentoring on
business plan development, product design, marketing, and digitalization. Each supported
artisan will be paired with a mentor or coach (e.g. an experienced entrepreneur or expert
artisan) to guide them in implementing their funded project.
3. Creation of a digital collaboration platform: an online platform (website/portal) dedicated to craftspeople and craft-related tourism. This platform will serve as a knowledge hub and networking space where artisans can connect across borders.
Project consortium
The consortium includes 12 Beneficiaries from 6 countries (Greece, Finland, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Estonia), complemented by experts and associate partners from the cultural, tourism, and innovation sectors.
1. Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Kozani (Greece) – Coordinator.
2. Design Association Modus (Finland)
3. CEIV Cluster (Spain)
4. Camera di Commercio Toscana Nord-Ovest (Italy)
5. Camera di Commercio Cremona-Mantova-Pavia (Italy)
6. Sofia Development Association (Bulgaria)
7. University of Patras (Greece)
8. European Institute for Local Development (Greece)
9. INNOQUEST (Estonia)
10. CONSULTA-EUROPA (Spain)
11. EUROPRO (Italy)
12. AIJU (Spain)
Project period
01/1/2026 – 31/12/2027
CRAFT-TOUR is a Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions (PPPA), funded by Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, (DG MOVE).
