Declaration of Pafos:
‘Sustainable Tourism Mobility towards Smart Destinations’
This Declaration is launched by the DESTI-SMART Interreg Europe project partnership, based on the results of interregional cooperation, exchange of experience and action plans implementation. It was firstly proposed at the DEST-SMART closing dissemination event/final conference held in Pafos, Cyprus, on 28 April 2022.
"The DESTI-SMART Interreg Europe project (June 2018 – November 2022) has devised and introduced several policies and innovations in smart and sustainable tourism mobility and accessibility. The efficiency of these policies and innovations in promoting sustainable mobility and accessibility at tourist destinations has been demonstrated by the project results, in contributing towards smart destinations.
On the basis of the DESTI-SMART project results, further achievements and related initiatives, the DESTI-SMART partnership hereby declares its determination to:
Continue to apply the initiated innovations for sustainable tourism mobility, as an important legacy of the DESTI-SMART project in the partner tourist destinations.
Ensure capitalisation the results and outputs of the DESTI-SMART project as a contribution for important improvements in relevant policy instruments, also related to EU programmes in the period 2021-2027 (e.g. Interreg Europe, Other Interreg, Horizon Europe, Connecting Europe Facility).
Make the procedures in the framework of DESTI-SMART project a permanent feature for close and effective stakeholder engagement in the partner destinations.
Continue to actively support the EU Smart Tourism Capital Awards, the UNWTO Smart Destinations initiative, the European Commission DG GROW Smart Tourism Destinations project, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals as related to Tourism.
Introduce further enhancements for low-carbon, sustainable mobility policies in the partner tourist destinations.
Contribute to decarbonisation initiatives in the tourism sector, with low carbon transport, particularly in the framework of the Green Deal and Climate Action UN SDG 2030.
Strongly support the ‘Transition Pathway for Tourism’ initiative and process, launched by the European Commission DG GROW in February 2022.
Maintain the DESTI-SMART partnership as a specialized Network of regional and local destination authorities, tourism boards and associations, transport operators and related stakeholders, for sustainable tourism mobility policies and innovations.
The DESTI-SMART Partnership, strongly calls upon tourism and transport authorities in Europe:
To work together towards the development, upgrading and implementation of smart and sustainable tourism mobility policies with further innovations, towards achieving smart destinations.
To raise awareness regarding the above to national authorities, EU institutions, relevant European networks, competent pan-European and international organisations.
To coordinate and advance sustainable tourism mobility policies that facilitate the introduction and operation of smart, low-carbon transport solutions.
To organize tourism mobility offers, so as to maximise social inclusion and to provide the majority of citizens and visitors with integrated transport options and smart mobility services.
Furthermore, the DESTI-SMART Partnership, strongly calls upon European Union Institutions and international organisations:
To continue to formulate, promote, upgrade and support policies on smart and sustainable tourism mobility and related actions with adequate EU funding, including low-carbon transport, intermodality, accessibility, cycling and walking, at tourist destinations.
To incorporate the above, in EU relevant initiatives, such as the European Capital of Smart Tourism, Smart Tourism Destinations, as well as UNWTO activities on Smart Destinations and Sustainable Development of Tourism.
To promote the advantages of low-carbon, smart and sustainable tourism mobility in social and economic development and cohesion, as well as in relation to the Green Deal and the Digital Agenda.
To facilitate the co-funding of relevant initiatives, infrastructures, products and services with quality and smart tourism mobility options, on the basis of their sustainability, innovation, efficiency, cohesion and resilience benefits.
To exploit synergies of the above with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, especially regarding climate action (SDG 13).
We encourage other local and regional destination authorities, tourism boards and associations, transport operators, mobility organisations, universities and research institutes throughout Europe, to adopt this Declaration and to join us in future, related initiatives for smart and sustainable tourism mobility policies and innovations, towards achieving Smart Destinations in the European Union and beyond.
DESTI-SMART Partnership,
Pafos, Cyprus, 28 April 2022
