This online guide highlights the wide range of funding programmes financed by the new budget, multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, and Next Generation EU. With these resources and this guide, we're supporting the move towards a more digital, sustainable and inclusive EU.
The guide will help you find appropriate funding. It contains links to relevant EU programme websites with the latest developments (such as annual work programmes or calls for proposals) and further details per programme. For inspiration, you can also see concrete project examples funded by previous EU programmes. The guide is available in all EU languages via a high-quality machine translation tool.
This guide focuses on practical issues related to the most important EU funding programmes for the tourism sector. Find out about your eligibility, which activities are eligible, the different types of funding, and where to apply & when. For brevity's sake, the guide only covers what is essential to find the relevant programme.
Step 1: Identify the relevant programmes and financial instruments
Find the most relevant programmes through the online guide’s three questions.
- On eligibility: Who can apply?
- On the programme’s topic: Which actions can receive funding?
- On the type of support: What kind of funding is available?
Disclaimer: For some programmes the annual work programme 2022 has not yet been adopted. Therefore, the information in this guide may be subject to future changes.
Step 2: Get familiar with the call-specific forms documentation (online)
Download the information package, usually including a 'guide' with advice on preparation and submission. If the information is not clear to you, feel free to use the dedicated interface (e.g. functional mailbox, online page, etc.).
Step 3: Find partners where useful or required
Some (sub)programmes support cross-border or trans-European projects. You may then need partners based in other EU countries to form a consortium.
Many programme websites or pages advertising a specific call contain a section where potential partners can post their offer or request.
Step 4: Submit your proposal, offer or application on time
Additional information
- Before you apply: EU funding for beginners | European Commission (europa.eu)
- General information on funding and tenders opportunities | European Commission (europa.eu)
- Find call for proposals & tenders (europa.eu)
In 2020, the EU introduced a stimulus package worth €2.018 trillion (in current prices). It consists of the EU’s long-term budget for 2021 to 2027 under the multiannual financial framework and NextGenerationEU, a temporary instrument to power the recovery. These resources will be allocated toward the green deal, digitalisation, and unforeseen circumstances.
Actors in the tourism ecosystem may also be eligible.
See the EU’s 2021-2027 long-term budget & NextGenerationEU.
For feedback on this online Guide on EU funding please contact GROW-G1@ec.europa.eu
Local business support
- Enterprise Europe Network – EEN offers SMEs free advice on funding opportunities through a network of local contact points. It also offers the possibility to find partners and create international partnerships. You can also see its 'Tourism and Cultural Heritage Sector Group'.
- Professional organisations may also provide similar support.
Technical assistance for applicants
- European Investment Advisory Hub - EIAH, a contact point for advisory expertise to help projects get funding
- Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions - JASPERS by the European Commission and by the European Investment Bank provides free assistance to local authorities and promoters, especially on project preparation, independent quality reviews and capacity building.
More useful links
- Search on Access to finance - Your Europe (europa.eu) for financial opportunities in your country filtered by loans and EU-supported venture capital.
- The European Small Business portal signposts relevant information for SMEs.
Calls for SME support under the single market programme
- Sustainable tourism growth & resilience – Empowering SMEs for the twin transition (SMP-COSME-2022-TOURSME-01) - deadline 30 November 2022 (17:00)
Calls for skills development under Erasmus+
- Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO-BLUEPRINT) - deadline 15 September 2022
- Alliances for Education and Enterprises (ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO-EDU-ENTERP) - deadline 15 September 2022
Future and currently open tourism-related funding & tenders
Calls with focus on innovation and/or sustainability (not sector specific)
- EIC Accelerator Open (HORIZON-EIC-2022-ACCELERATOROPEN-01) – deadline 5 October 2022
- Transformation of regional economic systems for climate resilience and sustainability (HORIZON-MISS-2022-CLIMA-01) – deadline 27 September 2022
- Mission Climate adaptation and Mission Ocean and waters - Joint demonstration for coastal resilience in the Arctic and Atlantic sea basin (HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEANCLIMA-01) – deadline 27 September 2022
- Innovation investments –GREEN (I3-2021-INV1-GREEN and I3-2021-INV2a-GREEN) – deadline 18 October 2022
- Supporting the clean energy transition of the business sector (LIFE-2022-CET-BUSINESS) – deadline 16 November 2022
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Guide on EU funding for tourism (17)
RSSCreative Europe is the European Union's programme for support to the cultural and creative sectors, including the audio-visual sector.
The Digital Europe work programme, which runs from 2021 to 2022, shapes and supports the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy. Its ultimate goal is to support the strategic autonomy of the EU single market.
Erasmus+ is the EU programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport. These are key areas that support citizens in their personal and professional development.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD or so-called Second Pillar) supports the vibrancy and economic viability of rural communities through rural development measures.
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), launched in 2007, helps people find new jobs through further education or training or helps them start their own business.
The fund supports actions and investments that contribute to the protection of aquatic biodiversity and to sustainable and low-impact fishing and aquaculture activities. It also promotes the supply of quality and healthy seafood products to European consumers.
In order to strengthen the environmental, socioeconomic sustainability and resilience of tourism in the long term, regions and countries are encouraged to help transform the sector by learning from innovative solutions.
The ESF+ has a total budget of over €99 billion. It invests in people, creating and protecting job opportunities, promoting social inclusion, fighting poverty and developing the skills needed for the digital and green transition.
Research and innovation framework programme, running from 2021-27. It has a budget of around €95.5 billion for 2021-27 (in current prices), including €5.4 billion from NextGenEU to boost the economic recovery and make the EU more resilient for the future, and €4 billion reinforcement.
The InvestEU programme will promote investments to strengthen tourism’s competitiveness, sustainability, and value chains. It will facilitate sustainable, innovative and digital measures, which could help reduce the sector’s climate and environmental footprint.
The Fund aims to reduce the social and economic costs resulting from the transition to an EU climate-neutral economy by supporting diversification of economic activity, creating new business opportunities and helping people adapt to a changing labour market.
Funds projects in environment and climate action. Tourism activities related to green transition can benefit from the programme. Particularly tourism projects supporting the circular economy, energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, as well as climate-neutrality may be eligible.
As a part of the NextGenerationEU, REACT-EU provides additional €50.6 billion (in current prices) for assistance aimed at fostering development in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences, as well as preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.
Its aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.
Aims to provide EU countries the tools to recover and repair from the Covid-19 crisis. The final objective is to make the Single Market stronger and more resilient. Annex 2 focuses on improving the competitiveness of enterprises, particularly SMEs, and supporting their access to markets.
Projects financed by EBRD address a wide area of sustainable practices and associated market trends in tourism. Out of the EBRD’s 39 countries of operation, 12 are located within the EU. There are 3 programmes with specific relevance to the tourism sector.
The European Investment Bank is the lending arm of the European Union. The EIB offers loans, guarantees, equity investments and advisory services and operates both in the EU and around the world.