Innovative Cross Border Tourism SMEs Cluster
IT-AL-MO area is affected by direct and indirect consequences of the global economic crisis. A common economic strenght is the tertiary sector with specific reference to tourism facilities. SMEs play a crucial role for growth and job creation,but their competitiveness has a limited exploitation of international tourism opportunities.In this context the project aims to promote networking growth and to strengthen specific skills of the SMEs in the elegible area.The overall project’s objective is the improvement of the competitiveness, cooperation of IT-AL-MO SMEs through the creation and implementation of one innovative cross-border tourism cluster (INNOTOURCLUST) focused on the integration and training of local economic operators for a better and innovative match of local enterprises with international tourism industry.The expected change is an innovative way to look at tourism industry.Tourism business should be more organized and integrated with local SMEs (agriculture, fisheries, sea-based services, handicraft, Ho.re.ca, eco-sport and social organizations) in order to meet the growing international “tourism experiences” demand and putting the tourists in touch with local enterprises and producers.INNOTOURCLUST is an innovative cluster model that offers business additional income opportunities for local SMEs.The project’s main outputs are: n.1 Cluster created (100 SMEs involved), n.8 business agreements (20 SMEs involved), n.4 workshops (40 SMEs involved), n.1 capacity building digital lab format (20 business institutions involved), n. 4 B2B events (40 SMEs involved).The project’s area has great tourism chances but local tour operators generally work just through classic tourism-related stakeholders, missing the opportunity to build-up innovative touristic products created in close contact with different type of local enterprises. The approach aims to enhance the framework conditions and jointly managed innovative pilot "travel experiences" services and products.