Project Update: Capacity Building for Mediterranean Protected Areas
Expert Team at TrainingAid
About the Project: DestiMED PLUS
DestiMED PLUS is an Interreg MED Sustainable Tourism Community project aimed at improving the integration of tourism and conservation policies in and around Mediterranean Protected Areas.
The methodology and tools developed through the project will support Protected Area managers and local stakeholders such as private sector tour operators, to develop ecotourism in a Protected Area destination using a collaborative approach and allow them to measure and monitor the impact this tourism is having on the destination.
Promoting these best practices for sustainable tourism development in the Mediterranean will achieve:
- Increased nature conservation capacity and support for driving economic development through ecotourism.
- Increased employment opportunities and higher value placed on natural and cultural resources.
- Diversified flow of tourism and equity of benefits, relieving pressure on natural ecosystems.
TrainingAid supports the DestiMED Plus project as consultants, focused on providing advice and supporting research and development related to online capacity building, promoting the application of the MEET (Mediterranean Experience of Ecotourism) / DestiMED methodology to protected area destinations in the region, as well as to regional tourism stakeholders.
See related links and resources:
MEET Network: Mediterranean Experience of Ecotourism
The MEET Network is a non-profit association of Mediterranean protected areas aiming to enhance and promote ecotourism across the Mediterranean basin, born as a spin-off of MEET and DestiMED European projects. The 9 protected areas supported in the DestiMED PLUS project and their respective ecotourism itineraries will be integrated into the MEET network and catalogue for ongoing support and promotion.
