Upskilling municipal staff competences on planning and managing sustainable tourism

<< Background >>The consortium applied for the UST project to respond to the growing need for more sustainable, strategic, and inclusive approaches to local tourism development. Many municipalities lacked the necessary knowledge, tools, and competences to effectively plan and manage tourism in a way that balances economic, social, and environmental priorities. Through the project, partners aimed to strengthen the capacities of local authorities’ staff in sustainable tourism planning and management, ensuring they could make informed and responsible decisions. Another key need was to develop local strategies to better define each city’s territorial marketing, enhance its visibility, and position it as an attractive tourism destination. The project also addressed the need to engage local stakeholders more actively in tourism development, fostering collaboration and co-creation. << Objectives >>The UST project aimed to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to plan and manage tourism in a sustainable way. By implementing the project, partners sought to enhance the knowledge and competences of municipal staff, enabling them to integrate sustainability principles into tourism development. The project also aimed to develop local strategies that define each city’s territorial marketing, promoting them as attractive and responsible tourism destinations. Through the active involvement of local stakeholders, the project encouraged participatory planning and the co-creation of solutions tailored to local needs. Ultimately, UST aspired to foster a sustainable model of local tourism that balances economic growth with the preservation of natural environment, while ensuring positive social impacts for residents and visitors alike. << Implementation >>During the UST project, partners implemented a series of activities designed to strengthen local capacities in sustainable tourism management. A self-assessment framework was developed to help municipalities identify their strengths, needs, and gaps in sustenability, tourism attraction and planning. Building on this analysis, an online training course was created to upskill municipal staff in sustainable tourism strategies, complemented by an in-person training seminar held in Sweden to encourage exchange of experiences and good practices. Partners also produced a comprehensive handbook featuring case studies and the sustainable tourism strategies developed by participating organisations. To ensure wide dissemination and engagement, several dissemination activities were implemented and multiplier events were organised in five partner countries, providing opportunities to share project results, promote sustainable tourism approaches. << Results >>The UST project delivered several concrete outputs and tangible results that strengthened the capacity of municipalities to plan and promote sustainable tourism. A self-assessment framework was created to help local authorities identify needs, gaps, and opportunities in their tourism management practices. An online training course was developed to enhance the skills and competences of municipal staff, offering practical tools and methodologies for sustainable tourism planning. A handbook was produced, showcasing innovative examples and including the sustainable tourism strategies designed by each partner city. To ensure accessibility and visibility of all project results, a dedicated website was launched, serving as a knowledge hub where materials, tools, and best practices are shared with a wider audience for 3 years after the end of the project. Together, these outputs provided lasting resources to support local authorities and stakeholders in developing responsible, inclusive, and competitive tourism destinations.