Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People

European Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals COS- TFLOWS-2014-3-15 “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons – Strand A” has been published by the European Commission, Directorate Research and Innovation, in the framework of the COSME Programme.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) play a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas they are considered as crucial engines for growth and job creation, their competitiveness is affected by a limited exploitation of international opportunities and innovation prospects in the Single Market and beyond. In this context, the Programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (COSME) aims to promote growth and to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises in the European Union.

The general objectives of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons” call for proposals, published by the European Commission, are to:

- support the extension of the tourism season, hence contributing to improve SME's competitiveness and jobs growth;

- foster transnational cooperation among the widest possible number of actors along the tourism value chain;

- facilitate European public-private partnerships;

- foster seniors and young people wider sense of European citizenship through increased intra-EU mobility.

 

Project proposals to be submitted in the framework of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons” call for proposals, published by the European Commission, must target "seniors" or "young people" and must clearly indicate who the targeted beneficiaries are.

 

The project proposals to be submitted in the framework of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons” call for proposals must follow one (and only one) of the two following strands according to the chosen target:

-  "STRAND A". Proposals submitted under this strand must target seniors.

-  "STRAND B". Proposals submitted under this strand must target young people.

Under Strand A, the Commission will co-finance specific actions aimed at developing transnational tourism products for seniors, facilitating tourism flows in Europe during the low and medium seasons.

 

Project proposals to be submitted in the framework of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons – Strand A” call for proposals must develop the following "core" activities:

- design and develop tourism products concept for seniors

- run a pilot test to validate the tourism product concept

- measure and evaluate the test's results and gather the lessons learned.

 

The following additional possible activities will be considered as assets of the proposal submitted in the framework of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons – Strand A” call for proposals. Those activities are eligible for funding provided that applicants clearly motivate the choice and demonstrate that they are necessary for the better implementation of the above mentioned activities.

- senior market analysis, surveys, comparative analysis, evidence-gathering, studies (i.e. statistical data on those who do not travel or never travel outside their borders and its reasons; analysis of seasonality; trends and preferences in the tourism products and services; barriers; income levels, etc...);

- discussion platforms, focus groups, fora, workshops and similar initiatives;

- exchanges of good practices;

- capacity-building, and training for senior tourists and professionals;

- networking and partnering activities;

- comparative analysis of the quality of existing tourism services provided to seniors, definition of common quality criteria or recommendations for such services, etc.;

- measures to create synergies with European initiatives (e.g. eCalypso, EDEN, Tourismlink, Cultural Routes, European Capital of Culture, European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing) and transnational programs and policies (e.g. Macro-regional strategies, twinning policies between cities);

- conferences, seminars, awareness raising events relevant to the Call objectives.

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons – Strand A” call for proposals is estimated at EUR 1.300.000 maximum. The financial contribution from the Commission cannot exceed 75 % of the total eligible costs.

 

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current “Facilitating EU Transnational Tourism Flows for Seniors and Young People in the Low and Medium Seasons – Strand A” call for proposals is 15 January 2015.  

 

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/cosme/calls/cos-tflows-2014-3-15.html