CRAFT-TOUR is a transnational initiative designed to revitalise Europe’s traditional handicrafts by strategically linking them with sustainable tourism development. Its core mission is to empower craftsmen and small artisanal SMEs with funding, skills, and visibility so that unique local crafts become drivers of economic resilience, cultural preservation, and authentic visitor experiences across Europe. The project combines financial support to third parties (sub-grants), mentoring, a digital collaboration platform, and new craft-based tourism products to ensure that traditional skills translate into viable, market-ready offers for European and international tourists.
Through open EU-wide calls, CRAFT-TOUR will support at least 30 artisans to innovate, digitalise, and professionalise their businesses and will launch around 10 collaborative craft-tourism initiatives, such as craft trails, hands-on workshops, and local festivals in at least four regions. A dedicated online platform will connect over 200 artisans, tourism SMEs, and support organisations, serving as a hub for networking, best-practice exchange, and showcasing success stories, while also acting as a long-term resource beyond the project’s lifetime. By fostering cross-border collaboration, youth engagement in craftsmanship, and stronger integration of crafts into destination strategies, CRAFT-TOUR aims to position craft heritage as a key pillar of Europe’s cultural tourism offer and to provide a scalable model that other regions can replicate.
Budget: €831,695.00 (90% Financed)