EU Rural Tourism: A Successful Project for European Rural Tourism

Today, February 28, 2025, marks the successful conclusion of EU Rural Tourism, a project co-funded by the European Union’s COSME program, aimed at strengthening rural tourism SMEs and creating the EuroCluster Rural Tourism.

Thanks to this initiative, approximately 190 micro and nano-enterprises in the rural tourism sector across 19 countries have enhanced their competitiveness and resilience, benefiting from innovative tools and specialized support. EU Rural Tourism has been a concrete opportunity for growth, sustainability, and innovation for the businesses involved.

As the project coordinator, Venetian Cluster, together with its partners—The National Cluster Association (NCA), Euracademy, the European Federation of Rural Tourism (RURALTOUR), the Association for the Development of the Harghita Community (ADI Harghita), and the Clúster de Turismo Sostenible de Aragón (TSAC)—is proud of the results achieved. Beyond the individual companies’ successes, the project fostered collaborative networks between participating businesses and support service providers who have guided SMEs throughout the process.

The impact on companies has been significant: many have seen operational improvements, increased customer satisfaction, and a deeper awareness of sustainable practices. This progress aligns perfectly with the goals of the European Green Deal, supporting the twin transition towards a greener and more digital economy.

Stories from Participating Businesses, many businesses have shared their experiences. Venetian Cluster has funded 20 companies in Italy, starting with:

✅ GRACE SRL (Italy) – VERONA AND JULIET (Slow Luxury Tourism)

“We were extremely satisfied with our experience with Venetian Cluster—a team of attentive and highly skilled professionals. The quality of the service provided was excellent, always customer-oriented, and highly responsive to our needs.”

Click here to explore one of the concrete results of Verona and Juliet.

The Future of Rural Tourism in Europe
Even as the EU Rural Tourism project concludes, the consortium remains committed to continuing its work through the EuroCluster Rural Tourism, aiming to become a key reference point for the sector. The knowledge gained will be essential in shaping the future of rural tourism in Europe.

Since 2022, the project has gathered over 200 useful resources to help SMEs seize new opportunities and make rural tourism an increasingly attractive option for travelers.

Click here to learn more about the results achieved in these 30 months alongside MICRO and SMEs.