People Powered Tourism

Tourism is not only about seeing the world anymore but saving it too – at least it should be based on the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action (2021) and COP28.

Within the People Powered Tourism partnership 14 project partners from 10 DR countries join their efforts to empower local communities (incl. marginalised groups) in less frequented neighbourhoods of touristic cities and remote rural areas via social innovation schemes, enabling them to valorise their unexploited cultural/natural assets and co-design sustainable, experience-based, transformative tourism services and products to establish or enhance their visitor economy and generate socio-economic benefits locally.

The visitor economy or new tourism as often called, is about creating “quality experience spaces”, where both visitors and residents feel satisfied. Through new experiences the goal is to inspire and educate visitors and locals at the same time. Social innovation is an integral part of the visitor economy as both intend to create new “values” (products, services) by creating new connections within the society. The visitor economy by nature shares the values of sustainable tourism and dispersing guests and benefits, helping visitors discover new – both natural and cultural – destinations, and generating new revenues for families, businesses and communities that have not previously benefited from tourism.