The ECOHOL project aimed to contribute to the ecological transition of European tourism, a sector that is essential to the economy but still ill-prepared for current environmental and social requi...

The ECOHOL project aimed to contribute to the ecological transition of European tourism, a sector that is essential to the economy but still ill-prepared for current environmental and social requirements. It sought to strengthen the training and employability of young people, particularly those from vulnerable groups (JAMO), by giving them the skills they need to become actors in a more sustainable, inclusive, and responsible tourism industry. The objectives were threefold: to raise awareness and train young tourism professionals through a set of accessible, practical, and multilingual educational tools: the ECOHOL Handbook and an interactive digital platform; to strengthen the green, social, and digital skills of tourism organizations and young people by promoting eco-responsible management, the circular economy, and social inclusion; stimulate European cooperation by comparing approaches and realities between urban and rural areas in four countries (FR, BE, ES, CY) in order to produce transferable and sustainable resources. Finally, the project aimed to influence local sustainable tourism policies by involving decision-makers, trainers, and young people in the co-creation of recommendations.

The ECOHOL project was structured around five complementary areas of activity: WP1 – Project management: coordination, budgetary and administrative monitoring provided by LABA, with an online kick-off meeting, two transnational meetings (Brussels, November 2023; Limassol, June 2025) and eight bimestrial online meetings, ensuring participatory governance. WP2 – ECOHOL manual: production of 12 training modules and 20 case studies and articles on sustainable tourism, tested with 110 young people (including 20 JAMO); publication of the manual online and in four languages. WP3 – Digital platform: development of a multilingual platform hosting resources, interactive quizzes, and 9 videos. WP4 – Policy recommendations: development of a European report designed with 83 stakeholders, including YWOs, tourism entrepreneurs, and policy makers, proposing concrete measures to integrate sustainability into public policies, including 8 action/lever sheets. WP5 – Promotion and sustainability: six national events, one social media campaign, and an eco-responsible action plan (green travel, digital communication, sustainable accommodation) to ensure the sustainability of the results.

The ECOHOL project has generated concrete, sustainable, and widely disseminated achievements. WP1 ensured effective management thanks to the Project Management Handbook, a shared drive, and the Click-Up tool, supported by bimestrial meetings and two TPMs (Brussels 2023, Limassol 2025). WP2 produced the Handbook, a training manual consisting of 12 modules on sustainable tourism, translated into 4 languages and tested with 110 young people, including 20 from vulnerable groups. Participants reported increased autonomy and a better understanding of the environmental challenges of tourism. WP3 developed the Moodle ECOHOL platform, hosting the modules, 9 videos, 20 case studies, and articles. WP4 mobilized 83 participants in national workshops, resulting in a report of policy recommendations presented during dissemination events. Finally, WP5 raised the project's profile through a website (1,900 visits), a LinkedIn page, and four newsletters, ensuring continued dissemination after the end of funding. ECOHOL thus leaves a concrete European legacy, combining open educational resources, transnational cooperation, and lasting impacts on young people and territories.