From March 23 to 25, 2026, Cagliari hosted the official launch of the CReSInMed project, bringing together partners from across the Mediterranean region. This marks a significant milestone for the project’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness and internationalisation of rural tourism SMEs. The CReSInMed initiative aims to foster sustainable growth in rural Mediterranean areas, offering tools, support, and expertise to SMEs in the tourism sector.
The first two days of the event, held at the Ex Manifattura Tabacchi in Cagliari, were dedicated to a Steering Committee meeting. Partners from Italy, Türkiye, Greece, Jordan, Spain, Palestine, and Tunisia came together in a hybrid format (both in person and remotely), to discuss the project’s coordination, review ongoing activities, and plan the next steps for the CReSInMed initiative.
The opening session included institutional greetings from Agnese Attene of the Managing Authority of the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. Following this, Stefania Melis and Khaled Elsaadani, representing the Joint Secretariat of the programme, presented essential aspects of the project, including reporting procedures, monitoring, financial management rules, and communication and visibility guidelines. Their insights provided a comprehensive overview of the framework and procedures that will guide the project’s successful implementation and ensure its alignment with the programme’s objectives.
The afternoon of March 24 saw the project open up to a broader audience, with a public event held at the prestigious Palazzo Regio in Cagliari. The event included a roundtable discussion on rural tourism in the Mediterranean, where institutional and technical perspectives were shared by distinguished speakers such as Massimo Zedda, the Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, and Aldo Puleo, Programme Manager at the Interreg NEXT MED Managing Authority. They were joined by Franco Cuccureddu, Councillor for Tourism, and Francesco Agus, Councillor for Agriculture and Agro-Pastoral Reform, both representing the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. Their contributions highlighted the importance of CReSInMed in strengthening rural areas and supporting sustainable and competitive tourism development across the Mediterranean.
The roundtable also included a diverse group of stakeholders, project partners and Project’s Associates, such as Nicoletta Piras (Director, GAL Sulcis Iglesiente Capoterra e Campidano di Cagliari), Cristiano Erriu (Secretary General, Chamber of Commerce of Cagliari-Oristano), Giovanni Loi (President, AGCI Sardegna), Thalma Radwan (Tourism Product Head Division, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Jordan), Rafael Mossi (Head of Competitiveness Department, Chamber of Commerce of Valencia, Spain), and Costas Economopoulos (THREE THIRDS SOCIETY, Greece). These discussions fostered a dynamic exchange on policies, development strategies, and future synergies aimed at improving rural tourism in the region.
Despite the challenges posed by the current international context, partners from Jordan and Palestine were able to contribute remotely, demonstrating the truly transnational nature of the project and reinforcing the spirit of collaboration that defines CReSInMed.
The final day of the CReSInMed Kick-off Meeting concluded with a significant institutional visit. Project partners were welcomed at the Regional Council of Sardinia by President Piero Comandini. This visit offered a valuable moment for dialogue on the crucial role of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in supporting rural territories. It also served as a key opportunity to strengthen the connection between the project and local authorities, emphasizing the importance of public policies in enhancing the growth, competitiveness, and internationalisation of rural tourism MSMEs. This visit marked a meaningful step forward, reinforcing the significance of collaboration between partners, territories, and institutions to create a lasting impact on Mediterranean communities.
As the event concluded, it became clear that this Kick off meeting served as a strong and shared starting point for the CReSInMed project, which will continue to support the competitiveness and internationalisation of rural tourism MSMEs across the Mediterranean. The journey has just begun, and there are many exciting developments ahead in promoting sustainable tourism and fostering collaborative synergies in this vital sector.
Stay tuned for more updates about CReSInMed!
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