The project aimed to train operators in the tourism sector (10 operators) of an area with unexpressed potential and which can increase in value in a context of sustainability of tourism in a perspective of circular economy. The training course is designed according to the European Union's reference framework in the sector of sustainability in tourism. During the project, a flexible training course is built on the basis of the needs of the territory and which takes into account market trends and the growing attention in tourists to this issue. The training activity is co-designed by enhancing the different and complementary experiences of the European partners. The expected result was the creation of a sustainable educational and transferable model and the experimentation of a supply chain network capable of applying the principles of sustainability in a complete way (environmental, social and tourism). The activities included: design and delivery of a training course, organization of the related materials (usable also online), two visits to European partners who have developed good practices in the sector and who could transfer knowledge and skills.
The project was thought starting from the contacts Italian Steps has with some stakeholders in the Alto Monferrato area, in Piedmont (province of Asti and Alessandria). For some years now, a number of tour operators in the area have been trying to carry on experiences of sustainable and slow tourism, with experiential visits and organic agricultural productions. There is a need for training and networking in order to strengthen the tourist vocation and, at the same time, start up sustainability paths that on the one hand are appreciated by tourism from northern Europe, the main visitor to these areas, and on the other. they respond to a pressing need of all production contexts and to regional and European Union priorities. The project wanted to look at experiential learning through the eyes of tourism providers to develop an appropriate mechanism to share learning, best practice and develop a network to maximise tourism in remote areas of each partner organisation with a focus on sustainability and the circular economy. Its aim was to create a learning support network to foster European sustainable tourism with the participation of the Irish and Dutch partners.