The SLOWTOUR project exemplifies a new wave of European initiatives that challenge traditional roles of tourism in local development. Initiated under the Interreg North-West Europe programme, it unites a diverse group of cities, academic institutions, and regional organisations aiming to rejuvenate industrial heritage sites through slow tourism strategies. With a €5.1 million budget and a 3.5-year span, the project targets small and medium-sized cities confronting common issues: socio-economic decline, underutilised industrial areas, fragmented tourism flows, and a weakened sense of local identity among residents. SLOWTOUR advocates slow tourism as a solution, prioritising experience quality, local participation, and place-based growth over visitor numbers.

 It positions slow tourism as a driver of urban renewal, community inclusion, cultural identity, and local economic revitalisation. Central to the project is citizen involvement, transforming residents into storytellers, co-creators, and ambassadors, ensuring that tourism development aligns with local values and directly benefits communities. Led by the City of Roubaix (France), the partnership includes cities such as Roeselare, Galway, and Limerick, as well as organisations such as Atlantic Technological University, NECSTouR, and IDETA Regional Development Agency.

A key output of the project will be the development of a Slow Tourism Blueprint—a strategic framework co-created by experts, local authorities and communities. This blueprint will provide methodologies for citizen engagement, best practices for reusing industrial heritage and policy recommendations for developing urban slow tourism.

To ensure tangible impact, the project will test its approach in six pilot cities: Galway and Limerick (Ireland), Roubaix (France), Roeselare and Tournai (Belgium), and Pirmasens (Germany). These pilots will include activities such as heritage-based routes, walking and cycling itineraries, cultural events, and creative reuse of public spaces. The results of these pilots will feed into a final Slow Tourism Playbook—a transferable toolkit designed to support other cities and regions in adopting similar approaches. The project aims to inspire at least 20 additional cities in North-West Europe through peer learning, workshops, and collaboration with universities and SMEs.

 From a European perspective, SLOWTOUR is highly relevant. It directly addresses key EU priorities, including sustainable tourism, territorial cohesion, and community-led development. By focusing on smaller cities and underused assets, it contributes to a more balanced distribution of tourism benefits and helps reduce pressure on overcrowded destinations. Importantly, the project also reflects a broader shift in tourism policy—from growth-oriented models to approaches that prioritise quality, identity, and resilience. It demonstrates how tourism can be used not only as an economic tool but also as a mechanism for strengthening communities and reactivating places.

Ultimately, SLOWTOUR shows how European cooperation can translate innovative concepts into practical solutions. By combining heritage, community engagement and slow tourism principles, it offers a scalable model for destinations seeking to create more meaningful and sustainable tourism experiences.

More information:
https://necstour.eu/slowtour-press-release/

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