On 26 June 2026, the Union of Municipalities “Tifernum” hosted a local stakeholder workshop in Montagano, Italy, as part of the Interreg Euro-MED TO CARE MED project. Held at the Council Chamber of Montagano, the workshop brought together local authorities, tourism operators, associations, and community representatives to explore sustainable tourism strategies and the application of the Tourism Carrying Capacity Limit (TCCL) methodology.
The workshop was coordinated by Dr. Federico Massimo Ceschin, President of the Italian Society for Sustainable Mobility and Tourism (SIMTUR), who guided participants through the updated TCCL methodology and its role in supporting evidence-based tourism planning.
Following the introductory session, stakeholders participated in an interactive working workshop focused on analysing tourism dynamics, identifying development opportunities, and discussing visitor flow management within the project’s pilot area. The collaborative exercise encouraged participants to share local knowledge and define practical recommendations for balancing tourism development with the protection of the area’s environmental and cultural assets.
The discussions generated valuable contributions to the TO CARE MED Action Plan, highlighting three strategic priorities for the territory:
- Promoting a “culture of limits” to ensure tourism development respects environmental and social carrying capacity;
- Developing targeted communication strategies to attract visitors interested in authentic and lesser-known destinations;
- Strengthening community-based tourism, building on local identity, traditions, and cultural heritage.
Participants also identified two key governance recommendations for the long-term sustainability of the destination. Rather than promoting municipalities individually, stakeholders expressed support for stronger inter-municipal cooperation that presents the territory as a unified destination. In addition, the establishment of a public-private Foundation was proposed as a governance model to coordinate tourism development and foster long-term collaboration among local actors.
The workshop confirmed the importance of participatory planning in designing sustainable tourism strategies that reflect both community needs and visitor expectations. By actively involving local stakeholders in decision-making, TO CARE MED continues to promote shared responsibility for managing tourism growth across Mediterranean destinations.
The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to the ongoing refinement of the project’s Action Plan and support the implementation of the Tourism Carrying Capacity Limit (TCCL) tool in the Molise pilot area. Through collaborative governance and innovative planning approaches, TO CARE MED is helping Mediterranean territories build more resilient, balanced, and sustainable tourism models for the future.
