Download [Digitare il titolo del documento] Sustainability and Tourism in the

Sustainability and Tourism in the Mediterranean (S&T Med) is a strategic project cofinanced by the European Union through the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin
Programme 2007-2013.
The Strategy of the Project is based on the recognition of the crucial role played by
cultural and biological diversity in the attractiveness and economic development of
Mediterranean coastal destinations and the consequent need to manage this huge
heritage in a sustainable manner respecting local social and cultural values as well as
the environmental ecosystems and associated services.
The S&T Med Project, whose activities are going to end in December 2015, aims at:
- protecting, valorising and promoting natural and cultural heritage in a systemic way;
- supporting the development of a sustainable and responsible coastal tourism in the
Mediterranean, including through raising capacities and awareness of local
administrations, private sector, local communities and tourists;
- developing shared models and frameworks in the Mediterranean for joint responses to
common challenges.
More specifically, the S&T Med Project will achieve a set of three-fold intertwined results:
=> The adoption and application of a public/private Destination Management
Organization (DMO), to sustainably manage, valorise and promote natural and cultural
heritage in a coordinated manner.
=> The establishment of a trans-national Observatory on Sustainable Tourism,
combining environmental as well as tourism data and analyses, to promote and protect
natural resources of the involved costal ecosystems and create an innovative tool to
promote and monitor sustainable tourism.
=> The set-up of an international network of sustainable coastal tourism destinations
in the Mediterranean destination sharing homogeneous quality standards and
methodologies to protect, enhance and promote the sustainable use of coastal areas. The
network will offer the opportunity to develop and test common methodologies during
project implementation and will be open to other destinations.
=> The support to local economic growth and business development, primarily through
(i) the refurbishment of buildings of economic significance for the area that could represent
tourism attractors; (ii) the set-up of business alliances that could improve economies of
scale and quality and range of services for tourisms.
The Project is implemented in three target areas: Sinis and Isola di Mal di Ventre in Italy,
Mahdia in Tunisia and Aqaba in Jordan.
The Project relies upon scientific and technical contributions of a variety of Partners that
have made available their expertise and experience for the successful implementation of
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the Project: National Government (the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and
Tourism); Scientific partners [Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn of Naples (IT), Al-Balqa
Applied University (JO), National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies
(TN), University for foreigners “Dante Alighieri” of Reggio Calabria (IT)]; Local
Authorities (Sardinia Region, Municipality of Mahdia), Marine Protected Area/Marine
Park (Municipality of Cabras, Managing Authority of the Marine Protected Area “Penisola
del Sinis/Isola di mal di Ventre”, Aqaba Marine Park).