Ister-Granum EGTC

From 19 to 21 November, the picturesque Spanish town of Caravaca de la Cruz, in the region of Murcia, Spain, hosted the second interregional thematic workshop of the SlowDown project (ITW2), an initiative supported by the Interreg Europe programme and co-funded by the European Union, bringing together representatives from nine European countries – Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Finland, Latvia, Ireland, France, Romania and Spain – to promote sustainable tourism strategies.

For three days, participants were immersed in strategic planning, learned about innovative methods and visited the cultural and natural heritage of the host region.

The SlowDown project focuses on encouraging cooperation between regions to develop tourism strategies that respect the local environment and culture. Key discussions during the workshop focused on stakeholder engagement, the coordination of local and regional tourism policies and the importance of a roadmap to guide implementation efforts.

A particularly attractive feature of the workshop was the knowledge exchange, where representatives from partner regions presented their approaches to sustainable tourism. This session also included quick-meetings (with representatives from each partner meeting separately), providing an innovative platform for participants to share ideas and best practices in an interactive environment.

The workshop was not limited to presentations. Participants were able to learn about the region’s commitment to sustainability through study visits. These included visits to the Fuentes del Marqués, known for its unspoilt natural landscapes, as well as the Caravaca Castle and Basilica and the Borlovak Museum, which provided a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical significance of the region.

Practical demonstrations of sustainable practices were also highlighted. Participants had the opportunity to meet a dedicated accommodation provider (Hotel Gastronómico “Casa Borrego”) and a tour of the bioclimatic flats of the CEAMA Agroecological and Environmental Centre in Bullas also presented innovative approaches to ecotourism.

The third day of the project meeting focused on project implementation and financial accounting. Discussions stressed the need for clear, implementable strategies to ensure the success of slow tourism initiatives.

The outcomes of the meeting confirmed the potential of slow tourism to bring about significant economic and social change while preserving the cultural and natural richness of European regions.

The SlowDown project is an Interreg Europe initiative aimed at promoting sustainable and slow tourism practices across Europe. Through cooperation, knowledge sharing and policy coordination, the project aims to develop regional tourism strategies while promoting cultural and environmental stewardship.

For more information visit https://www.interregeurope.eu/slowdown

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