By implementing the INSPIRE project, our aim was to provide meaningful, practical support for refugees who wish to create tourism enterprises. We wanted to ensure that people in refugee-like situations are not only able to access opportunities for self-employment, but also feel equipped and confident to succeed in their host communities. More specifically, we wanted to achieve the following: Develop tailored resources Create a good practice guide, training programme, and digital badge designed specifically for refugee tourism entrepreneurs, based on real evidence gathered from research and interviews across several countries. Increase access to support Build a comprehensive and easy-to-use database of supports, delivered via a website and mobile app, that includes information on training, funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Promote skills and confidence Strengthen entrepreneurial and digital skills among refugees, while recognising and validating their achievements through structured training and digital credentials. Encourage integration and economic resilience Support refugees in developing sustainable tourism ventures that can improve their livelihoods and increase their independence
We applied for the INSPIRE project because we recognised an urgent need to support refugees in establishing their own tourism ventures. Funded under Erasmus+ Key Action 2 and led by the Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland, INSPIRE runs from late 2023 to late 2025. It offers a valuable platform to collaborate with partners across Europe—Belgium, Croatia, Türkiye, and Ukraine—to create practical, high‑impact resources for refugee tourism entrepreneurs. The project enabled us to develop tools that help refugees overcome the economic and social challenges they face. Through training, digital tools, and shared learning, we aimed to empower individuals in refugee‑like situations to build businesses that support their economic resilience and help them integrate into new communities. Refugees often have restricted access to essential supports such as finance, training, and business networks. INSPIRE provided, and continues to provide, a bespoke good‑practice guide, training course, and digital badge to bridge that gap. Generic entrepreneurship programmes rarely address the specific experiences and constraints of refugees. INSPIRE addressed this by producing resources built directly from desk research and interviews.