What we do
The TO CARE MED addresses over-tourism challenges by transferring to ecotourism destinations, the Tourism Carrying Capacity Limit (TCCL) tool and methodology, originally developed and tested in the ALTERECO PLUS project. The transfer is vital as many Ecotourism destinations lack the capacity to manage tourist flows sustainably, leading to negative environmental and socio-economic impacts.
THE new approach
This approach goes beyond existing practices by providing a flexible, data-driven tool that adapts to varying conditions and tourist behaviors. It helps to balance ecotourism offer with environmental conservation and local community well-being and foster sustainable tourism practices.
Through cooperation, TO CARE MED promotes destination working groups to share practices at the transnational level and to co-design services and products enhancing the overall sustainability of ecotourism, locally.
By the project’s end, TO CARE MED will have established a robust framework for sustainable ecotourism, ensuring lasting positive impacts on both the environment and local communities.
Destination Working Group (DWG)
Protecting Nature While Welcoming Visitors: TO CARE MED in El Valle & Sierra de Carrascoy
El Valle & Sierra de Carrascoy, a 16,700-hectare protected landscape and part of the Natura 2000 network, serves as a pilot site for the Interreg TO CARE MED project. As a key green lung for the surrounding metropolitan area, the park combines exceptional biodiversity, cultural heritage, and growing demand for outdoor recreation, making careful tourism management essential.
Through the creation of local Destination Working Groups, TO CARE MED brings together public authorities, environmental organizations, tourism operators, and community representatives to co-design sustainable solutions. By integrating participation, data collection, and responsible planning, the project aims to protect fragile ecosystems while enhancing visitor experiences and supporting long-term, balanced development.
Read the newsPula Launches Initiative for Sustainable Tourism through TO CARE MED Project
The City of Pula has launched the Interreg TO CARE MED project to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development. The first meeting of the Destination Working Group was held on 30 October 2025, bringing together local authorities, tourism organisations, NGOs, and experts, and emphasising the importance of participatory planning.
The project aims to improve residents’ quality of life and enhance the visitor experience within a broader Mediterranean cooperation framework.
Special focus was placed on the Valsaline pilot area, where key challenges and proposed actions were identified, including better connectivity, preservation of green spaces, and new facilities for the local community and young people.
The collected proposals will be developed into concrete guidelines through future project activities and meetings.
Sts. Constantine and Helena Resort (Bulgaria) Destination Working Group (DWG)
Sts. Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria’s oldest Black Sea resort, is one of TO CARE MED’s pilot destinations working to strengthen sustainable tourism through the Tourism Carrying Capacity Limit (TCCL) tool.
Known for its mineral springs, forests, and 3.5-km coastline, the resort faces rising pressures from increasing visitor numbers, outdated infrastructure, and environmental risks. A Destination Working Group (DWG) meeting on 26 September 2025 brought together local authorities and experts to align strategies, assess tourism impacts, and plan targeted measures to protect the resort’s sensitive coastal and green areas.
By applying the TCCL methodology, the project helps identify ecological and infrastructural thresholds and translates data into actionable, site-specific strategies.
Next steps include:
- Expanding stakeholder participation,
- Drafting an Action Plan,
- Delivering TCCL training,
- Improving documentation—laying the foundation for coordinated, long-term management of the resort’s natural and cultural assets.
Kick-off Stakeholder Meeting organised by the Unione dei Comuni Tifernum (Italy)
The online stakeholder meeting organized by the Unione dei Comuni Tifernum (UCT) within the To CARE MED project brought together 12 key local actors to discuss priorities for developing sustainable ecotourism in the area. After the opening remarks and project introduction, discussions—guided by a structured questionnaire—focused on current challenges and opportunities.
Participants highlighted major issues: limited integrated tourist packages, the need for a stronger shared territorial identity, insufficient joint promotion, unsustainable practices in local events, and a lack of coordinated governance and updated accommodation data.
Proposed actions included conducting a territorial survey, establishing a permanent coordination table, and introducing sustainability guidelines for events and waste management. The meeting confirmed that improving promotion, governance integration, and responsible event management is crucial for advancing ecotourism. A stakeholder questionnaire (Italian and English) was also collected to support further analysis.
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