The main goal of this action is to support upskilling and reskilling across the tourism ecosystem and to facilitate active participation in EU policy on data management and data sharing, notably the future European tourism data space and the Tourism Knowledge Hub. 

The call seeks proposals that will:

• Upskill and reskill DMOs, SMEs and other tourism stakeholders in their management and use of data.

• Strengthen networking and cooperation among these actors to foster synergies and better participation in EU-level digital and policy initiatives.

• Connect destinations and businesses with EU initiatives, tools and guidelines focused on digital transformation, data use and capacity development in tourism. 

Proposals should demonstrate activities that:

1. Increase understanding and adoption of EU initiatives on tourism digitalisation, data services and smart tourism.

2. Promote data-driven solutions for tourism management.

3. Provide training and access to knowledge (bottom-up capacity building, workshops, e-learning, coaching).

4. Support innovation and resilience in tourism through skills enhancement and digitalisation.

5. Offer strategic guidance for destination organisations as they transition to more digital, sustainable operations. 

Funded projects may include (but are not limited to):

• Webinars, workshops and tailored training programmes on data and digital tools.

• Peer-to-peer learning exchanges, mentoring and study visits.

• Creation of educational and training materials for DMOs and SMEs.

• Development of practical resources to support data use in destination management and tourism planning.

• Bootcamps, hackathons and innovation events.

• Capacity work that fosters resilience and readiness for future tourism challenges.

• Estimated total budget: ~€1.6 million (approx.)

• EU funding rate: ~90% of eligible costs

• Estimated EU contribution per project: up to €1,600,000 (indicative) euro-access.eu

Eligible applicants typically include legal entities established in EU Member States, such as:

• Destination Management Organisations (DMOs)

• Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

• Tourism clusters and associations

• Training and research organisations

• Public authorities and national/regional agencies

Consortia are usually required to include partners from multiple eligible countries. Applicants must demonstrate that they can deliver on the objectives and will involve tourism stakeholders across the EU in their activities. (Check the official call document for complete eligibility details when available).

• Opening date: 8 December 2025

• Deadline for submission: 3 March 2026 (17:00 CET)

• Procedure: Single-stage grant application process, European Commission

This call supports the digital and data transformation of European tourism, helping destinations and businesses leverage new EU tools, including the tourism data space and the Tourism Knowledge Hub. Building capacity in data management, digital skills and networking aligns directly with current EU priorities for tourism resilience, sustainability and competitiveness — crucial as destinations adapt to evolving travel trends and mobility patterns.

By encouraging broad engagement from SMEs and DMOs — including those less experienced with EU initiatives — the call aims to help many regions across Europe become more competitive, digitally savvy and better prepared for future challenges. Successful projects funded under this call will support the shift toward more innovative, sustainable and data-driven tourism development across the EU.

Detailed information and official application forms will be available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal under the call identifier: PPPA-2026-TOURISM-CAPACITY-BUILDING.

🔗 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/PPPA-2026-TOURISM-CAPACITY-BUILDING

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