Project BSB - 00332
INTERSMARTS
Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and Services for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin
Driving innovation, advancing research, and engaging communities to foster a smart, sustainable future for tourism and blue growth in the Black Sea region.
THE CHALLENGE
Sustainable tourism industry can boost blue growth
In recent years, Europe’s blue economy sectors have generated over €750 billion annually, supporting 4.5 million jobs across the continent. With its inherent dynamism and potential for innovation, the blue economy is poised to drive the green transition—replacing unchecked growth with clean, climate-friendly, and sustainable practices that respect marine ecosystems.
As the largest sector of Europe’s blue economy, coastal tourism plays a crucial role in advancing blue growth and building resilient, sustainable communities. Yet, Black Sea tourism faces significant challenges that hinder its sustainability and its potential to act as a local driver of sustainability for other sectors. These barriers lead to economic, environmental, and social setbacks.
While new technologies offer transformative potential, the Black Sea tourism sector must enhance its capacity for knowledge and technology adoption to realize this vision.
Our Work
Enhancing sustainability performance and innovation absorption of tourism and services in the Black Sea Basin
“INTERSMARTS: Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and Services for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin” is a transnational initiative aimed at improving the sustainability performance and innovation adoption of tourism and related services in the Black Sea Basin through interdisciplinary research, networking, co-creation, and holistic knowledge generation.
The project seeks to shift traditional perceptions and raise awareness of the knowledge-intensive nature of tourism within the blue growth framework. It strives to bring together academia, business, government, the civic sector, and environmental stakeholders in interdisciplinary research, networking, co-creation, and holistic knowledge generation.”
What We Suggest
Developing solutions of regional value and efficient utilization of accumulated know-how
Interdisciplinary Network
To study, develop and promote practical innovative solutions for sustainable tourism enterprises and blue growth.
Needs Assessment
To identify pathways for feasible smart solutions for tourism sustainability and outline opportunities for blue growth.
On-Line Data Base
To identify directions for feasible smart solutions for tourism sustainability and outline prospects for blue growth.
Collaboration Space
for idea generation and enhancing the sustainability performance of Black Sea Basin tourism entities in alignment with blue growth principles.
Collaboratory Events
That unite business, academia, and the community to develop solutions for shared sustainability challenges in Black Sea Basin tourism and services.
Mentoring Activities
To train businesses on introducing novel solutions and advanced technologies in practical ways to improve their sustainability.
Latest News
INTERSMARTS Innovation Management Platform – Piloting Report
The INTERSMARTS project has published the “Innovation Management Platform – Piloting Report”, summarising the testing, validation, and user feedback collected during the piloting of the
INTERSMARTS Mentoring Collaboratories – Experience Sharing Report
The INTERSMARTS project has published the “Mentoring Collaboratories – Experience Sharing Report”, presenting the concept, methodology, and results of mentoring collaboratories implemented across the Black
International Conference “Cooperation for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Region” in Varna, Bulgaria
On November 28th, 2025, the Varna University of Management hosted the International Conference “Cooperation for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Region” as the closing event with on-site and on-line participation.
INTERSMARTS Conference Focused on Innovation and Sustainable Transition in Tourism in Thessaloniki, Greece
On November 20th, 2025, an international conference entitled “Innovation & Sustainable Transition in the Tourism Industry” brought together stakeholders from across the Black Sea Basin to explore smart and green approaches to tourism development at the International Hellenic University.
International Conference “Advancing Sustainable Tourism and Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin” in Istanbul, Turkiye
On November 14th, 2025, the INTERSMARTS partnership organized the Network Expansion Conference “Advancing Sustainable Tourism and Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin” in Istanbul and hosted by the Istanbul Development Agency.
Mentoring Collaboratory on Sustainable Tourism and Blue Growth Held in Istanbul, Turkiye
On November 5th, 2025, the Mentoring Collaboratory “Mentorship and Collaboration Workshops for Sustainable Tourism and Blue Growth in the Black Sea” was successfully held at DotsHub Istanbul, hosted by the Istanbul Development Agency.