Turistica continues its partnership in MAST PLUS to advance sustainable tourism
Turistica continues its involvement as a project partner in MAST PLUS (MAking Sustainable Tourism Possible Plus), an Interreg Euro-MED Test Project under the programme’s Sustainable Tourism Mission. Building on the achievements of the original MAST Project, MAST PLUS turns research into practical action: from identifying the barriers that prevent small and medium-sized accommodation enterprises from adopting sustainable practices to testing solutions that support their implementation in real operational environments.
During the initial study phase, the MAST consortium analysed the sustainability challenges faced by accommodation SMEs across the Mediterranean and developed the MAST Sustainable Solution. It comprises a Sustainability Protocol, a Self-Assessment Tool and an Implementation Manual. Based on the ISO 21401:2018 standard for sustainability management in accommodation establishments, these tools translate complex sustainability requirements into practical, SME-friendly actions addressing environmental, social and economic dimensions.
MAST PLUS focuses on testing and validating these solutions. Through pilot implementation with at least 50 accommodation SMEs across Mediterranean partner countries, the consortium will evaluate, refine and adapt the MAST Sustainable Solution to different local and regional contexts. The project combines pilot testing, Communities of Practice and transnational cooperation to ensure that the tools are practical, transferable and ready for wider uptake across the Mediterranean.
Activities follow four interconnected stages: pilot preparation, pilot implementation, Community of Practice and co-creation support, and sustainability and transferability. This approach enables the consortium to validate the effectiveness of the solution in real-life conditions and prepare it for replication and policy uptake beyond the pilot territories.
The project brings together universities, research organisations, innovation centres, tourism organisations, regional development agencies and policy experts from eight Mediterranean countries. Their cooperation supports the transition towards a more resilient, competitive and sustainable accommodation sector while creating lasting value for destinations, businesses and local communities.
MAST PLUS runs for 27 months and has a total budget of €2 million, including €1.6 million in Interreg funding.
For more information, visit the MAST PLUS website and follow the project on Facebook and LinkedIn.
