ESCAPE2 is an Erasmus+ Project that responds to the tourism challenges faced by rural regions in Europe such as unemployment, low levels of productivity, marginalised communities, economic and social poverty, and is developed in rural regions of Europe countries as Spain, Italy, Ireland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Romania, Greece and Turkey.
It responds by developing a High-Quality Rural Tourism Strategy inclusive of innovation drivers and learning stimuli for startups & spin-offs. Recipients will build customised, unique skills and competencies in different spheres of the rural tourism sector. It will also lead to more innovation and labour market opportunities in these regions.
The target groups identified by the project are: country houses, farm holidays, restaurants, gastronomy, experiences, attractions, culture, heritage, natural tourism, cellars,  tour guides, handicraft shops, artisan businesses, operators and local tour providers or other primary producers.

ESCAPE2 will facilitate the creation and collaboration of tourism actors, stakeholders, policy-makers and networks through various activities such as events, seminars, meetings and virtual interactions so that their involvement is established from the beginning and throughout the project. The involvement of industry is important to establish feedback, understand and facilitate interpretation of individual tourism regions and the existing gaps that exist. ESCAPE2 partners will ensure their input is gathered, interpreted, and the relevant knowledge exchange occurs. These conversations and interactions are key to the development of the project and its ownership. 
Newsletter

Landscapes

Outdoor activities

How will ESCAPE2 Impact
​​Rural Tourism Regions in Europe? 

ESCAPE2 aims to address the specific needs detected in several rural areas, such as:
  • Relatively scarce or non-existent experiences of rural tourism with integrated strategies
  • Lack of non-existing integrated development policies focused on tourism as a key element for economic growth
  • Regions, communities and stakeholders with a low level of awareness about the economic potentiality of rural areas and added value tourism chains
  • Regions with a lack of quality facilities and services for tourists,
  • Regions and SMEs with alack of efficient marketing activities and integrated communication plans etc.​
                    Cultural heritage
Traditional food
ESCAPE2 Project Progress
During the period June-July 2021 all partners are working hard to fulfill the IO1 activities with the purpose to:
  • Define the common criteria and best practices on offers of rural tourism and solutions for people loving relax and slow touristic offers
  • Find a definition of local stakeholders to guarantee sustainability and potential beneficiaries/users of the ESCAPE2 tourism strategy
  • Define a set of indicators to measure quality performance in tourism destination and to monitor its developments over time
To accomplish this task, a research is implemented on 3 fields of interest: TOURISTIC GUIDES AND TOURISTIC ASSOCIATIONS, HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMODATION and CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NATURAL HERITAGE that  entails:
  • stakeholder analysis which allows the identification of public/private actors/stakeholders/policymakers to involve in project further activities to guarantee sustainability of implementation of action plans
  • mapping/assessment of Points of rural touristic Interest in partner areas
The beginning 2022 outline the work of partners to create the strategy for rural tourism development. 
The hybrid meeting proposed a series of activities which will be implemented and a taste of local culture.


​See the full album here