From vision to practice: Sustainable Tourism Partnership meets in Heraklion
This meeting marked an important milestone for the Partnership. It is now at a crossroads in the implementation of the six Actions outlined in the Action Plan. These Actions were designed to address the real, often complex challenges faced by cities and regions navigating the sustainability transition, from climate impact and skills gaps to inclusiveness, accessibility, and local economic resilience.
After a day and a half of focused working sessions, open discussions, and shared learning, one thing was clear: the Partnership has matured, and with it, the clarity of its ambition.
From complexity to clarity: defining outputs that work
During the first sessions, Partners shared progress updates on their Actions, each contributing a vital piece to the broader puzzle. The conversation shifted from initial ideas to what will actually be delivered: What will destinations and DMOs be able to use? How do we ensure quality, coherence, and accessibility?
From this, a set of tangible, practical outputs began to take shape:
A guide for tourism destinations to develop Climate Action Plans, featuring best practices and templates;
A handbook for DMOs to support local SMEs in achieving sustainability certification, with real-world case studies;
A matchmaking toolkit for upskilling tourism professionals based on personalised digital needs;
A practical guide for diversifying tourism offerings, including nature-based, cultural, and community-rooted experiences;
Accessibility guidelines that go beyond compliance to promote inclusion by design;
Policy recommendations on leveraging local retail as a unique tourism asset.
Recognising that this growing body of knowledge might overwhelm the very people it aims to support, the Partnership decided to go a step further: to consolidate the work into a single, streamlined publication, written in an engaging and accessible way. More than a summary, this will be a translation of expertise into action, ready to be picked up and applied by tourism stakeholders across Europe.
Navigating policy landscapes: from strategy to advocacy
Another focal point of the meeting was alignment, not just internally among Actions, but externally with broader EU policy frameworks.
Representatives from the European Commission offered early insights into the shaping of the new EU Tourism Strategy and the positioning of tourism within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This created space for the Partners to think strategically: Where can we intervene? How can we contribute?
A collective brainstorming followed, mapping out upcoming policy events, consultation windows, and institutional moments where the Partnership could bring forward its voice not as a passive observer, but as a source of tested, place-based solutions.
A dialogue of cities: sharing stories, shaping practice
On the second day, attention turned to the local level. In a session attended by Heraklion’s local stakeholders, participating cities and regions presented flagship initiatives from their own contexts, from Barcelona and Venice, which are redefining tourism governance through regulation, to emerging destinations like Narva or Larissa, navigating the early stages of strategic development.
This exchange revealed not only the diversity of approaches, but also the shared struggles and aspirations: the tension between growth and care, the pressure to adapt without losing identity, the need to plan with -not just for- communities.
Financing the transition: tools, gaps, and guidance
Before closing, a workshop on financial tools offered practical guidance on how to fund the sustainability transition. The session navigated the often-daunting landscape of EU funds, development banks, and blended finance models, helping cities and regions see not just the what, but the how of implementation.
This was a crucial moment. Because ideas, no matter how innovative, remain grounded without pathways to make them real. And implementation -as everyone in the room knew- is where the real work begins.
The experience that lingers
And yet, beyond the outputs, timelines, and deliverables, it was the experience of Heraklion itself that truly lingered with participants.
A study visit to Peskesi Farm and Restaurant took us into the heart of Crete’s regenerative ethos. The farm, a living example of circular practices and community-rooted food systems, is more than a sustainability project. It is a philosophy in action. From organic farming and composting, to seasonal cooking and cultural storytelling, Peskesi embodies a principle often forgotten in policy: that care for the land and care for people are inseparable.
Over a shared meal, surrounded by olive groves and mountain air, something shifted. The conversations became more grounded, the ideas more connected. Perhaps this is the power of seeing sustainability not as a goal, but as a practice: lived, local, and relational.
What comes next
The Heraklion meeting was not about final answers. It was about aligning efforts, strengthening messages, and recommitting to a shared vision.
As we move forward, the Sustainable Tourism Partnership continues to evolve as a space for experimentation, a platform for influence, and most of all, as a community of people and places working to ensure that tourism enriches, rather than extracts.
There’s still much to do. But the way forward is clearer. And as everyone left Heraklion (some with papers in hand, others with soil on their shoes) the feeling was the same: we’re not just planning tourism. We’re changing it.