During spring 2026 DETOUR partners organised a series of online and in-person Info Days in Italy, Türkiye, Greece and Bulgaria to present the opportunities for financial support and mini-grants offered by the project to SMEs partnerships active in the tourism sector along walking routes.

The meetings involved more than 150 participants, including SMEs, mentors, tourism organisations and local stakeholders. The sessions aimed to explain how the project works, present the funding opportunities available through the Call for Collaborative Projects, and provide practical guidance ahead of the call deadline, which closed on 1 June 2026.

The activities focused on the confirmed details of the call and included mentor presentations, matchmaking between mentors and SMEs, dedicated mentoring sessions and online meetings to support participants in developing innovative project proposals and strengthening collaboration among local businesses and tourism organisations.

Thanks to these Info Days and to the wider promotional activities carried out in the participating countries, DETOUR received 99 applications from SMEs and stakeholders across Italy, Türkiye, Greece and Bulgaria. The evaluation committee is currently analysing the proposals, and the selected applicants will be notified on 13 July 2026.

Through these activities, DETOUR confirms its role in supporting local entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable tourism development along Mediterranean cultural and historical routes.

[Credits: unsplash.com]