Our project application was driven by a primary objective – to actively contribute to environmental preservation under the "Green Deal" Circular Economy. We aimed to prevent harmful products from entering the EU market, aligning with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, although current legislation only expected a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by then. Acknowledging tourism's significant role in the global economy, especially in the EU, where 12 million people worked in the industry, our focus was on addressing the environmental challenges linked to tourism. We aimed to foster sustainability, reduce waste, and minimize carbon emissions from tourism activities. Our specific goal was to enhance the professional development of SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and VET trainers. We wanted to provide knowledge and skills related to the Low-emission concept in the contemporary tourism industry. The anticipated outcomes included the m-learning solution (PR1) for the tourism sector, aimed at reducing carbon footprint, and the Recognition and Validation OER (PR2). These outcomes were strategically designed to significantly contribute to advancing sustainable practices in the tourism sector and aligning with the EU's overarching.
We applied for this project driven by our collective commitment to fostering sustainable practices in the tourism industry. Recognizing the pressing global challenges posed by climate change, we sought an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a project aligned with environmental responsibility. The needs addressed by this project are crucial and multi-faceted. Firstly, there is a growing urgency to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with tourism, given its significant environmental impact. TOUCAN directly tackles this need by developing modules (PR1) that educate stakeholders in the tourism industry on low-emission practices. Furthermore, the creation of the guide and the TOUCAN validation test (PR2) addresses the need for a standardized and recognized framework for validating knowledge in the tourism sector. By incorporating open educational resources (OER), the project ensures accessibility, catering to diverse learning needs. In essence, our application reflects a collective desire to actively participate in a project at the forefront of promoting sustainable tourism practices, addressing environmental concerns, and contributing to the professional development of individuals in the industry.