Transforming the Agrotourism Sector through Social Innovation and Digital Empowerment
In an increasingly digital world, accessibility becomes a fundamental right. With this guiding principle, the EU-funded project DigAccessAgrotourism is setting the stage to revolutionize the agrotourism sector by strengthening digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
The partnership
This initiative brings together a consortium from six European countries—Cyprus, Poland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium—to create a more inclusive and accessible agrotourism sector: OIC Foundation, EUROSUCCESS, Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, FENACERCI, Greek-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Cyprus Agroturism Company, and the ARFIE network.
The Mission: Digital Accessibility in Agrotourism
DigAccessAgrotourism focuses on two key avenues:
- Empowering Agrotourism SMEs: by tailoring capacity-building and mentoring activities, the project aims to enhance the ability of social economy enterprises in agrotourism to integrate cutting-edge digital tools to promote universal accessibility.
- Supporting Enabling Organisations: the project extends its impact by equipping organisations that support SMEs to better assist their members. This dual approach ensures a robust support network for agrotourism enterprises approaching their digital transformation journey.
Key Activities
The project’s roadmap is ambitious:
- Needs Identification and Mapping: a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and requirements of agrotourism organizations in achieving digital accessibility.
- Tailored Capacity Building: training sessions and mentoring tailored to the needs of both agrotourism enterprises and their supporting organizations at national and transnational levels.
- Transnational Hackathon and Demo Days: an European stage for innovators to present digital and accessible solutions and foster partnerships for future initiatives.
These activities are not only designed to address immediate needs but also to embed long-term achievements into the sector, ensuring that digital accessibility becomes an integral aspect of the agrotourism sector.
Kick-Off Meeting in Lublin: a promising start
The project began with the kick-off meeting hosted by OIC Poland Foundation on November 14, 2024, in Lublin, Poland. The gathering brought the consortium together to discuss project implementation, dissemination strategies, and innovative approaches and activities.
A highlight of the meeting was a capacity-building session showcasing Lublin Municipality’s digital tourism tool. This innovative solution allows visitors to explore historical landmarks through QR codes and Virtual Reality technologies, providing a glimpse into the potential of integrating heritage with digital advances.
Conclusions: paving the way for Inclusive Tourism
DigAccessAgrotourism exemplifies the power of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity and by addressing the digital needs of agrotourism SMEs and their enabling organizations, the project sets the stage for a more accessible and equitable tourism industry.
Views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor EISMEA can be held responsible for them.
