FIRST MILE Project – Final Event in Bologna

by avitemadminin Non classifié(e), Non classifié(e), Sustainable tourismon Posted on

On 20 October 2025, the FIRST MILE European project concluded with a final event in Bologna, bringing together tourism SMEs, researchers, public authorities, and European networks around a shared goal: making sustainability concrete, accessible, and actionable for the tourism sector.

First steps toward action

At a time when 76% of the European tourism sector is made up of SMEs, FIRST MILE promotes simple, low-cost, and immediately applicable changes. The project is rooted in a vision of regenerative tourism that is attentive to climate, social, and territorial challenges across Europe and the Mediterranean.

The FIRST MILE method: sustainability through choice design

Presented by the BehaviorSmart agency, the FIRST MILE methodology is based on behavioral sciences. Its key principle is to make the sustainable option easy, attractive, and the default choice for both businesses and travelers.

By working on the design of tourism services, FIRST MILE helps SMEs overcome barriers to change (habits, lack of time, choice overload) and integrate environmental and social responsibility at the core of the tourism experience.

Tangible results on the ground

Since 2023, 80 European SMEs have been supported. The observed impacts include:

    • reduced water and energy consumption
    • promotion of soft/low-impact mobility and local products
    • improved customer satisfaction
    • financial savings and enhanced business attractiveness
    • better waste collection management and a reduction in the volume of waste produced

Initiatives in Italy, Slovenia, France, and Norway have shown that small adjustments can generate lasting and measurable change.

Working together to go further

The event also highlighted the key role of public–private partnerships, tourism flow management, certifications (GSTC), and co-creation with local communities. Professional networks and institutions have a major role to play in disseminating and scaling up these good practices.

All partners share the same conviction: the transition begins with a first step, but it is built over time.

What comes after FIRST MILE?

The project will conclude at the end of 2025, with open-access deliverables designed to enable other businesses to get involved easily by drawing inspiration from best practices, tactics, and tools: