SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME (SMP) – Supporting sustainable competitiveness of tourism SME – 2026

Objectives

• To leverage tourism as a key driver of sustainable economic growth, job creation, and regional development
• To enhance the competitiveness, long-term viability and sustainable growth of the tourism SMEs and the tourism ecosystem as a whole
• To increase the resilience and adaptability of tourism destinations and businesses

Priorities

• Priority 1: creation of thematic and/or geographic touristic routes by involving relevant stakeholders, mobilising and strengthening the tourism ecosystem
• Priority 2: encourage regenerative and sustainable tourism that respect the authenticity of local tourism offerings
• Priority 3: contribute to the well-being and sustainable development of local communities

Among financed actions

• Conceptualisation, design, revamp, or expansion of the touristic route
• Mapping and framing the ecosystem
• Communication campaigns
• Case studies
• Preparation of practical replication toolkits or guidance documents

Eligibility

• Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Single Market Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries).
• Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal
• A consortium which complies with the following conditions must be constituted:
  • must be composed of minimum 5 and a maximum 8 independent entities
  • must be composed of minimum 3 destination management organisations (DMOs) from minimum 2 different eligible countries
  • must be composed of minimum 2 business support organisations (BSO) from minimum 2 different eligible countries

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: between 30 and 48 months

Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

• Contact: EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 6.9 million euros
• Amount of the grant: between 1.200.000 and 1.400.000 euros per project

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

• Funding rate: between 90% and 100% of the total eligible costs