The European Commission, through the European Innovation Council and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), has launched a new funding opportunity to enhance the competitiveness of tourism businesses across Europe. The initiative, titled “Supporting Sustainable Competitiveness in Tourism – SMP-COSME-2026-TOURSME-01,” focuses on assisting tourism SMEs in adopting innovative, sustainable, and digital solutions to tackle the evolving challenges in the sector.

This initiative is part of the Single Market Programme, which builds on the COSME programme's work to support entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU. The programme aims to improve market access, boost competitiveness, and promote innovation, while also facilitating the green and digital transition of European industries.

Tourism SMEs represent the backbone of Europe’s tourism ecosystem. They account for the majority of businesses operating in the sector, including accommodation providers, tour operators, mobility services, attractions and hospitality companies. The new call, therefore, focuses on building their capacity to innovate and adapt to emerging trends such as sustainable tourism, digitalisation and changing visitor expectations.

Projects funded under the call are expected to support activities such as developing new sustainable tourism products, improving digital tools and services, strengthening skills and training for tourism professionals, and fostering cooperation between tourism stakeholders. The initiative also encourages collaborative projects that help SMEs test new business models, scale innovative solutions and share best practices across regions.

The call is open to organisations that can support tourism SMEs, including business support organisations, clusters, research institutions and destination management bodies. These organisations will develop collaborative programmes that provide SMEs with training, mentoring, networking opportunities and access to innovation ecosystems. Such actions are intended to help smaller tourism businesses adapt to the green and digital transition while improving long-term resilience.

For European tourism as a whole, the initiative is particularly important. The tourism sector is one of the EU’s largest economic ecosystems and a key driver of employment, regional development and cultural exchange. Strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs supports not only economic growth but also sustainability goals, including climate action, digital transformation and more resilient tourism destinations.

The call underscores broader EU priorities, including the Transition Pathway for Tourism, which aims to support the sector's transformation towards a more sustainable, digital, and inclusive future. By fostering innovation and collaboration among tourism SMEs, this program helps create a stronger, more competitive tourism ecosystem across Europe.

Tourism organisations, clusters, and regional development bodies that wish to support SMEs are encouraged to review the call details and prepare proposals. Successful projects will play a vital role in shaping the next generation of sustainable tourism solutions in Europe.

More information about the call:
https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/funding-opportunities/calls-proposals/supporting-sustainable-competitiveness-tourism-smp-cosme-2026-toursme-01_en

#Sustainable Tourism #Innovation In Tourism #Tourism Development
#Stakeholder Engagement #Resilience Planning