Seven thousand kilometers only with sustainable means: 100 international youth embark on green itineraries in 4 west Mediterranean destinations
PRESS RELEASE
SEVEN THOUSAND KILOMETERS ONLY WITH SUSTAINABLE MEANS: 100 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EMBARK ON GREEN ITINERARIES IN 4 WEST MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATIONS
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ON TOUR FOR THE WE MED NATOUR PROJECT: LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN ITALY, PORTUGAL, SPAIN, AND MAURITANIA
Over 100 young people aged between 6 to 16 are about to embark on a green adventure, covering over 7,000 kilometers solely using eco-friendly means of transportation through Mauritania, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. The EU WeMED_NaTOUR project, promoted and co-funded by the European Commission implemented by the Consortium composed with the coordinator X23, ENIT from Italy; ISTO from Belgium; Asociaciòn Cluster Nàutico de las Islas Baleares from Spain; Turismo de Portugal from Portugal; Travel Without Plastic from Spain; and Office National de Tourisme Mauritanie from Mauritania, is entering a new phase aimed at promoting learning and nature conservation through school trips.
The project is co-financed by the EU EMFAF program (managed by CINEA) - the EU WeMED_NaTOUR involves transnational cooperation and intersectoral efforts to send over 100 young people, aged between 6 and 16, to prepare for an extraordinary ecological adventure, covering over 7,000 kilometers exclusively with eco-friendly transportation through Mauritania, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. This remarkable initiative marks the mission of the EU WeMED_NATOUR project, aiming to promote learning and nature conservation through travel experiences. The primary goal of EU WeMED_NATOUR is to develop tailor-made eco-smart packages to enhance the attractiveness of coastal and marine destinations in the participating countries, emphasizing their ecological and cultural significance for a broader range of visitors, with particular attention to cultivating environmental awareness in the younger generations.
The school itineraries seek to instill in children and students a deep appreciation for nature, promoting a profound respect for the environment and conveying the importance of embracing sustainable tourism. To ensure the sustainability of these educational excursions, the consortium partners have implemented a series of measures, including offering inclusive activities, minimizing waste, prioritizing eco-friendly transportation options such as walking, cycling, and public transport, and promoting environmentally conscious accommodation choices. The initiative aims to increase the appeal of participating destinations, highlighting their unique offerings for a diverse audience, with special attention to the "new generations." In a broader perspective, the goal is to develop sustainable tourist packages tailored for international and national school groups of different age groups, thereby fostering a multidimensional approach to education. The active involvement and collaboration of Western Mediterranean tourism SMEs are crucial, not only in the conception but also in the practical implementation of these innovative tourist packages. Thanks to this collaborative effort, selected natural marine sites and coastal destinations in the Western Mediterranean will become perfect classrooms, offering engaging educational experiences that not only enrich the curriculum but also empower children and young people to actively contribute to the conservation of our fragile ecosystems.
The project is coordinated by X23 - The Innovation Bakery and implemented by ENIT – Italian National Tourist Board | Travel Without Plastic | International Social Tourism Organisation (ISTO) | Balearic Marine Cluster | Turismo de Portugal and Office National de Tourisme (ONT) Mauritanie.