By implementing this project, the partners aimed to foster a shift towards low carbon tourism (LCT) and foster related entrepreneurship. To achieve this, the VINCI project pooled experts on Climate Change/Sustainability, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, work-based training, VET Curriculum development and digital technologies. The partners thus set these objectives: OB1: to develop an innovative curriculum on LCT activities and related entrepreneurship; OB2: to raise awareness through 'best practice' case-studies of how tourism stakeholders can generate less CO2 emissions in all three phases of travel tourism; OB3: to develop a set of modular training resources on LCT activities and related entrepreneurship, some of which will be Augmented and/or Virtual Reality based to better engage learners; OB4: to develop the VINCI Toolbox consisting of a repository of digital training resources on LCT, including an m-/e-Learning platform to help stakeholders acquire skills on LCT even at their place of work & home; OB5: to develop a Trainer's e-book intended to guide VET trainers on specific training units and/or styles relevant to different tourism stakeholders; OB6: to widely disseminate the project results and how to manage LCT.
At the time of the proposal submission stage, the VINCI partners realised that there was a need to foster low carbon good practices in the tourism sector. The EC had launched the 'Green Deal' action plan with the intent of making the EU's economy more sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities and making the transition just and inclusive for all. As clearly outlined in this action plan, the main economic actors i.e. EU businesses, consumers and citizens, were expected to be the driving force behind this transition towards a low-carbon and climate resilient continent. Clearly the EU tourism sector was a significant contributor to CO2 emissions. Thus there was a need to adapt low carbon practices in this sector to help meet the EU's ambitious 2030 targets. The partners realised the need that stakeholders such as tourists, agents, and hotels needed education and resources on low carbon tourism. Hence the VINCI partners planned to address these needs by providing VET trainers/tourism mentors with a set of innovative training resources they could use with different tourism stakeholders/learners to help them learn at their own pace, time on how to plan green travel paths and activities.