The implementation of the Interreg NEXT MED project “Building Resilient SMEs in the Tourism Industry (ReTour)” has begun, under the leadership of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
The project is funded by the European Union (EU) under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, with a total budget of €1,831,800 and an EU financial contribution of €1,630,302 (89%).
What is ReTour
ReTour envisions the empowerment of SMEs operating in the tourism sector in the Mediterranean, to become resilient to crises, seasonality, climate change and geopolitical developments, by enhancing innovation, cross-border cooperation and skills development.
At the heart of the ReTour project is the specific objective of enhancing the sustainable development and competitiveness of SMEs, with the expected result that tourism SMEs gain access to advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain, as well as innovative resilience and innovation strategies.
ReTour aims to transform the current reactive approach to crisis management into a proactive, resilient framework that will ensure that the Mediterranean remains a leading tourist destination in the coming decades.
Duration, geographical coverage and partnership
The project has a duration of 30 months and is implemented in 6 countries (Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Italy, Türkiye, Lebanon).
The ReTour consortium includes in total nine partners:
– National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) (Greece)
– Stratigon Finance (Greece)
– University of Nicosia Research Foundation (Cyprus)
– Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) (Jordan)
– Maharat Liqiyadat Al-Hasoub (Specto) (Jordan)
– Tarsus Commodity Exchange (Türkiye)
– Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) (Cyprus)
– Promimpresa Società Benefit s.r.l. (Italy)
– Université La Sagesse (Lebanon)
Furthermore, eight associated partners participate in the project, strengthening the connection with the market and the tourism ecosystem.
Key interventions and activities
ReTour is structured around a coherent package of interventions that combines diagnostic analysis, collaboration, technological adoption and skills development:
Research & mapping of crises/needs faced by tourism SMEs, so that solutions are targeted.
Creation of an Innovation Hub (digital knowledge/networking platform), as well as actions such as a Resilience Manifesto and virtual innovation challenges to produce and test innovative ideas.
Adoption and integration of technologies (e.g. AI, IoT, blockchain) to transition from “reactive” to proactive crisis management in tourism.
Personalized technological implementation plans for participating SMEs and development of pilot actions with evaluation of results.
Strengthening resilience skills of human resources.
Kick-off Meeting / KoM
The Retour Kick-off Meeting (KoM) was held in Athens, on January 7 & 8, 2026, at the premises of the National Technical University of Athens. All the project partners had the opportunity to meet in-person, exchange views on the main objectives and challenges to be faced in the project, and make an action plan for the initial working period.
