Accommodation units with local character in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) will benefit from digital promotion and operational optimization tools developed within the European project “Toural”, funded by the Horizon programme. The initiative aims to stimulate economic growth in remote rural areas across the Black Sea and Adriatic-Ionian basins, with the Danube Delta representing one of the six pilot regions analyzed.
The project, launched in 2024 and scheduled to conclude on December 31 of this year, is implemented by a consortium of 20 partners from eight European countries. According to Agerpres, the partners gathered in Tulcea for the project’s 5th General Assembly, an event also attended by Stavros Kalognomos, Executive Secretary of the Balkan and Black Sea Commission within the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe.
According to statements by Roxana Iacob, external expert for the Danube Delta Local Action Group (LAG), the developed applications provide visitor influx predictions and measure the carbon footprint of services in a biodiversity-sensitive area. Notable solutions include a sustainability simulator designed for tourism and water transport operators. This tool enables the adjustment of pricing, operational schedules, and inventory based on traffic estimates to prevent overcrowding and waste, while also facilitating the creation of integrated cultural routes. Following the pilot stage, the tools are set to be scaled up locally in cooperation with the DDBR Administration and the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Toural project?
Toural is a Horizon-funded European project aimed at fostering sustainable economic and tourism growth in remote rural areas across the Black Sea and Adriatic-Ionian basins.
How will digital tools help tourism operators in the Danube Delta?
The tools provide visitor flow forecasting, carbon footprint tracking, and a sustainability simulator to optimize pricing, capacity, and resource management.
Who will oversee the local expansion of these solutions?
Following the pilot phase, the tools will be scaled locally in partnership with the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration and the Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development.