Funding Opportunities

📌Open Call

Please consult the national call information on the websites of the project partners in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Türkiye.

Below is the selection framework of the call, which provides financial support to SMEs operating along the Mediterranean walking routes.

Eligible Countries and geographic areas:

Italy along the Via Francigena, stretch Pavia–Rome and 10 km buffer zone;
Greece along the mountainous paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni;
Bulgaria along the Sultan’s Trail in Thrace Tourism Region and Thrace Tourism Region;
Türkiye along the Lycian Way, from Fethiye to Antalya, Türkiye and 3 km buffer zone.

Timeline

Financial Support

Grant per project: €15,000 – €25,000
Funding rate: 100% (no co-financing required)
Form of funding: Lump sum
Payment structure:
- 20% at signature
- 40% mid-project (interim report)
- 40% after final report
Minimum 60% of funding must go to tourism SMEs
Possible budget reduction only for last-ranked project if funds are insufficient.

Who Can Apply?

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in tourism or tourism-related sectors.
Must be legally established for at least 1 year.
Must comply with EU SME definition (under 250 employees; ≤ €50M turnover or ≤ €43M balance sheet).

Partnership Composition

2 to 5 independent legal entities
At least 50 % must be tourism SMEs1. At least one tourism SME should be located along (or in buffer zone of) eligible walking routes.
Each entity can participate in only one funded partnership.
Partnerships may be of the following types:
- Only tourism SMEs
- Tourism SMEs and other tourism entities (DMOs, associations, sole-traders etc.)
- Tourism SMEs and Cross-sectoral partners (culture, agri-food, digital, IT, sole-traders, etc.)

Projects must contribute to:

Permissible Activities (Examples)

⚠️Equipment costs capped at 30% of total budget

Evaluation Criteria (Minimum 3/5 each; 12/20 overall threshold)

+1 bonus point if SME participated in DETOUR training.

Evaluation by 2 independent external experts per country.

Required Documentation