Call for Financial Support for SMEs under DETOUR project

The DETOUR cascade funding call (SMP-COSME, GA 101181295) offers grants of €15,000–25,000 from a total €800,000 budget to support collaborative projects led by tourism SMEs along designated Mediterranean walking routes in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and Türkiye. Grants cover 100% of eligible costs with equipment capped at 30% of project budgets and at least 60% of each grant required to benefit tourism SMEs; partnerships must include 2–5 independent legal entities with at least 50% tourism SMEs and at least one SME located on or within the route buffer. The call is single-stage, opens 9 March 2026 with a deadline of 1 June 2026 (12:00 Brussels time), selected projects start from 1 September 2026 and must run for 6–9 months. Applications are submitted via the DETOUR online form with required templates and documents and are evaluated nationally by two external experts on relevance, quality, feasibility and impact against minimum score thresholds.

What it funds

Scope

Grants for collaborative projects (6–9 months) helping tourism SMEs along specific Mediterranean walking routes to deliver sustainable, digital and resilient tourism products, services or processes. Eligible activities include product development, digital tools and bookings, software licences, green technologies, mobility solutions, market studies, training and marketing. Equipment costs are capped at 30% of the project budget.

Funding details:Grant per project €15,000 to €25,000; total cascade funding pool €800,000; funding rate 100% with 40% paid mid-project and minimum 60% of each project budget to be allocated to tourism SMEs ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of 2 to 5 independent legal entities where at least 50% of partners are tourism SMEs and at least one tourism SME is located along (or within the buffer zone of) the eligible walking routes. Each entity may join only one funded partnership.

1. 1Eligible geographic areas: Italy (Via Francigena Pavia–Rome +10 km), Greece (paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni), Bulgaria (Sultan’s Trail in Thrace Tourism Region), Türkiye (Lycian Way Fethiye–Antalya +3 km).
2. 2Applicant requirements: SMEs active in tourism or tourism-related sectors, legally established for at least 1 year and meeting the EU SME definition.
3. 3Project priorities: sustainability and green transition, digital transformation, business resilience and risk management, and inclusive accessible trail tourism.

Applications submitted via the official DETOUR online application form and must include completed application form, budget template, proof of legal registration, proof of tourism activity (NACE or equivalent) and Declaration of Honour. Selection uses relevance, quality, feasibility and impact scoring (min 3/5 per criterion; 12/20 overall).

Expected beneficiaries and volume:At least 30 projects supported overall; minimum 7 and maximum 12 projects per participating country; possible budget reduction only for the lowest-ranked project if funds run out.

Contact:detour.eu.project@gmail.com. Applicants must consult the full call documentation on the DETOUR website and national partner pages before applying. Submission via the official online form.

Footnotes

1. 1EU SME definition: independent enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and either annual turnover up to €50 million or balance sheet total up to €43 million; applicants must also provide proof of tourism activity (NACE code or equivalent).

This is a cascade funding call providing small grants to partnerships led by tourism SMEs operating along defined Mediterranean walking routes in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. The call is implemented under the EU Single Market Programme tourism action SMP-COSME through the DETOUR project Development of resilient tourism ecosystems along Mediterranean walking routes, Grant Agreement 101181295. The opportunity targets sustainability, digital transformation, business resilience, and inclusive accessibility in trail-based tourism. Applications are submitted online in a single stage and evaluated competitively by external experts per participating country. Key features include a grant size of €15,000 to €25,000 per project, 100 percent funding with no co-financing, equipment costs capped at 30 percent, and a mandatory project duration of 6 to 9 months. Results will be ranked nationally with between 7 and 12 projects funded per country and at least 30 projects overall.

Key Facts

Geographic Focus and Eligible Routes

• Italy: Along the Via Francigena, stretch Pavia to Rome, including a 10 km buffer zone.
• Greece: Along the mountainous paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni.
• Bulgaria: Along the Sultan’s Trail in the Thrace Tourism Region.
• Türkiye: Along the Lycian Way from Fethiye to Antalya, including a 3 km buffer zone.

Who Can Apply and Partnership Requirements

Applications must be submitted by a partnership composed of 2 to 5 independent legal entities. At least 50 percent of the partnership must be tourism SMEs and at least one tourism SME must be located on or within the buffer zone of the eligible walking routes listed in this call. Each legal entity may participate in only one funded partnership. Partnerships may consist of only tourism SMEs, tourism SMEs with other tourism actors such as destination management organizations, associations, or sole traders, or tourism SMEs with cross-sector partners including culture, agri-food, digital, IT, and sole traders. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises must be operating in tourism or tourism-related sectors, legally established for at least 1 year, and meet the EU SME definition under 250 employees and either turnover at or below €50 million or balance sheet total at or below €43 million.

Thematic Priorities and Activities

• Sustainability and green transition including green technologies and certifications, sustainable mobility solutions on or near the routes.
• Digital transformation including digital tools, booking systems, mapping platforms, and relevant software licences to improve operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Business resilience and risk management including market studies, business plans, and risk management planning.
• Inclusive and accessible trail tourism including measures and services that improve accessibility and inclusion for diverse visitors.

Permissible activities include:Development of new tourism products and services; deployment of digital tools, booking systems, and mapping platforms; acquisition of software licences directly linked to project objectives; sustainable mobility pilots and services; green technologies and certifications; market research and feasibility studies; business planning; staff training and upskilling; communication and marketing campaigns; risk management planning. Equipment expenditures are eligible but must not exceed 30 percent of the total eligible budget.

Submission, Evaluation, and Selection

Submission is via the official online application form hosted by the DETOUR project. Applicants must consult the full call text on the DETOUR website and use the provided templates. The call uses a competitive evaluation with a single-stage submission before the stated deadline. All applications undergo an eligibility and administrative check before expert evaluation.

Evaluation methodology and criteria:Each eligible application is assessed by two independent external experts in each participating country, appointed by DETOUR partners, with safeguards for independence and conflict of interest. Common criteria and scoring apply across all countries. Applications are scored on four criteria: Relevance, Quality, Feasibility, and Impact. Each criterion is scored 1 to 5. Minimum score is 3 per criterion and at least 12 out of 20 overall to be considered for funding. An additional bonus point may be granted if at least one SME in the partnership participated in DETOUR training activities. Funding is awarded to the highest-ranked proposals in each country until budget exhaustion, while observing the per-country minimum and maximum number of projects.

Application Package and Templates

• Completed Application Form submitted online via the official form.
• Budget Template detailing cost items, including identification of equipment costs to observe the 30 percent cap and clear allocation of at least 60 percent funding to tourism SMEs.
• Proof of legal registration for each applicant organisation in the partnership.
• Proof of tourism activity for relevant entities for example NACE code or equivalent official documentation.
• Declaration of Honour signed by the lead applicant and, if required, by partners.
• Post-selection documents to be finalized: Partnership Agreement and Grant Agreement.

Detailed Categorization and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types:Primary: SMEs operating in tourism or tourism-related sectors meeting the EU SME definition. Required presence: at least one tourism SME along an eligible walking route or in the specified buffer zones. Additional eligible partners within a consortium: other tourism entities such as destination management organizations, associations, and sole-traders; cross-sector entities from culture, agri-food, digital, and IT; sole traders in relevant fields. While universities, research institutes, nonprofits, NGOs, and local public bodies are not explicitly listed, cross-sector partners are permissible where they fit the defined categories and contribute to the objectives. Eligibility must align with the partnership rules minimum 50 percent tourism SMEs and geographic focus.

Funding Type:Grant provided as cascade funding financial support to third parties under the Single Market Programme tourism action implemented by the DETOUR project.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Partnerships must include 2 to 5 independent legal entities. At least 50 percent must be tourism SMEs, and at least one tourism SME must be located along or in the buffer zone of an eligible walking route. Each entity may join only one funded partnership.

Beneficiary Scope Geographic Eligibility:Geographically restricted to specific corridors and buffer zones along designated trails in four countries: Italy Via Francigena, stretch Pavia to Rome, 10 km buffer zone; Greece mountainous paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni; Bulgaria Sultan’s Trail in the Thrace Tourism Region; Türkiye Lycian Way, Fethiye to Antalya, 3 km buffer zone.

Target Sector:Tourism and trail-based destination services with strong cross-cutting emphases on digital transformation ICT, software services and platforms, environment and green transition cleantech and sustainable mobility, business resilience and risk management, accessibility and inclusion, culture and agri-food linkages, and innovation for sustainable visitor experiences.

Mentioned Countries:Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Türkiye.

Project Stage:Development and implementation over a 6 to 9 month period, suitable for activities from concept development and validation through pilot deployment and early demonstration of services and tools in operational trail tourism contexts.

Funding Amount:Total call budget is €800,000. Individual project grants range from €15,000 to €25,000. Funding rate is 100 percent. At least 60 percent of each project’s funding must go to tourism SMEs. Equipment costs are capped at 30 percent of the total project budget. A possible budget reduction may apply only to the last-ranked project if necessary for budget balance.

Application Type:Open call with a fixed deadline single stage. Proposals are submitted electronically via the DETOUR official online application form.

Nature of Support:Money. Beneficiaries receive grant funding under financial support to third parties. The wider DETOUR project also offers training and mentoring, which may complement the grant but the call’s primary support is financial.

Application Stages:1 stage application single-stage submission followed by eligibility check and external expert evaluation. Post-selection contracting includes Partnership Agreement and Grant Agreement.

Success Rates:Not specified. Selection is competitive and ranked by country. The call indicates funding for a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 12 projects per country and at least 30 projects overall. No data on expected number of proposals is provided, so success probability cannot be quantified.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-financing is required. Funding rate is 100 percent of eligible costs within the approved budget.

Financial and Compliance Rules

• Funding rate is 100 percent of eligible costs for the approved workplan.
• At least 60 percent of the grant must be allocated to tourism SMEs in the partnership.
• Equipment costs must not exceed 30 percent of the total eligible budget.
• Payment schedule foresees a 40 percent interim payment against a mid-project interim report, with the balance settled per the grant agreement upon satisfactory completion and reporting.
• Only one funded participation per legal entity is allowed across all partnerships.
• Geographic eligibility and route buffer constraints must be respected for eligibility and implementation.

Timeline and Process

Where and How to Apply

• Applicants must use the official DETOUR online application form and templates.
• Before applying, consult the national call information on the project partner websites in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, and Türkiye for any national-level details.
• Electronic submission only. Late or incomplete applications are ineligible.
• Contact point for queries: detour.eu.project@gmail.com.

Required contents of a complete submission:Application Form completed online; Budget Template with clear cost categories including equipment and SME allocation; Proof of legal registration for each partner; Proof of tourism activity NACE code or equivalent where applicable; Declaration of Honour signed by the lead and partners as required. Post-selection documents to be executed include the Partnership Agreement among beneficiaries and the Grant Agreement with the DETOUR consortium.

Evaluation Details and Thresholds

• Eligibility check: administrative completeness, timeliness, geographic and partnership compliance.
• External evaluation: two independent experts per participating country, using a common methodology.
• Scoring: Relevance 1 to 5, Quality 1 to 5, Feasibility 1 to 5, Impact 1 to 5.
• Thresholds: minimum 3 per criterion and 12 out of 20 overall to be considered.
• Bonus: 1 additional point if at least one SME partner attended DETOUR training activities.
• Ranking and selection: highest-ranked proposals per country until national budget envelopes are exhausted while respecting the 7 to 12 projects per country range and an overall minimum of 30 projects funded.

Compliance with SME Definition

Tourism SMEs must conform to the EU SME definition with fewer than 250 employees and either annual turnover at or below €50 million or annual balance sheet total at or below €43 million. SMEs must be legally established for at least one year at the time of application. Proof of tourism activity must be provided through NACE codes or equivalent official documentation.

Opportunity Categorization Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Tourism SMEs required as core beneficiaries; other permissible partners include destination management organizations, tourism associations, sole traders, and cross-sector partners in culture, agri-food, digital, and IT. Partnerships can therefore include SMEs, associations, sole traders, DMOs, and other relevant private or nonprofit entities that directly contribute to the project aims and respect the minimum share of tourism SMEs.

Funding Type:Grant through cascade funding financial support to third parties under the Single Market Programme.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium of 2 to 5 independent legal entities. At least 50 percent of partners must be tourism SMEs, with at least one tourism SME located along or in the buffer zone of an eligible route. One funded participation per entity.

Beneficiary Scope Geographic Eligibility:Restricted to specified trail corridors and buffer zones in Italy Pavia to Rome Via Francigena, Greece Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni, Bulgaria Sultan’s Trail in the Thrace Tourism Region, and Türkiye Lycian Way Fethiye to Antalya with a 3 km buffer.

Target Sector:Tourism including trail and nature-based tourism, with cross-cutting digital transformation ICT and software, environment and sustainability cleantech and green mobility, accessibility and inclusion, culture, and agri-food linkages.

Mentioned Countries:Italy; Greece; Bulgaria; Türkiye.

Project Stage:Development, validation, and early demonstration or implementation within a 6 to 9 month delivery window.

Funding Amount:€15,000 to €25,000 per project; total call budget €800,000; funding rate 100 percent; equipment cost ceiling 30 percent; minimum 60 percent budget allocation to tourism SMEs.

Application Type:Open call, single deadline, single-stage electronic submission.

Nature of Support:Money grant to third parties. Non-financial support training and mentoring may be available through DETOUR but is not the primary mechanism of this call.

Application Stages:1 stage submission followed by eligibility check and expert evaluation. Contracting stage follows selection with a Partnership Agreement and Grant Agreement.

Success Rates:Not provided. Selection caps indicate funding of 7 to 12 projects per country and at least 30 projects overall, but the number of expected applications is not stated.

Co-funding Requirement:No. Funding covers 100 percent of eligible costs within the approved budget. Co-financing is not required.

Official Sources and Contacts

• EU Funding and Tenders portal listing for the call and project context EU F&T Portal DETOUR call listing [[FN:1]
• DETOUR project funding opportunities page with national call links and online form DETOUR Funding Opportunities
• Contact email for queries: detour.eu.project@gmail.com

Comprehensive Summary

The Call for Financial Support for SMEs under the DETOUR project funds small, fast, collaborative projects that strengthen sustainable and resilient tourism ecosystems along specific Mediterranean walking routes in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Türkiye. Partnerships of 2 to 5 independent entities must include at least one tourism SME located on or near an eligible trail and ensure that at least half of the partners are tourism SMEs; at least 60 percent of the grant must be allocated to tourism SMEs. Grants range from €15,000 to €25,000 per project with a 100 percent funding rate and no co-financing requirement. Activities can include creation of new trail-related products and services, adoption of digital tools and booking platforms, sustainable mobility and green technology interventions, market research and planning, training and skills development, marketing, and risk management planning. The call is single-stage, with online application and mandatory templates including an application form, budget template, legal and activity proofs, and a declaration of honour. Proposals are evaluated nationally by two independent external experts on relevance, quality, feasibility, and impact, with defined thresholds and a possible bonus point for participation in DETOUR training. Funding is awarded to the top-ranked proposals in each country, ensuring 7 to 12 projects per country and at least 30 overall. Projects start from 1 September 2026 and run for 6 to 9 months. This opportunity is best suited to tourism SMEs and their partners aiming to deploy practical sustainability and digitalisation solutions, improve accessibility, and build business resilience in trail-based destinations, delivering tangible enhancements for visitors and local ecosystems within a short implementation period.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call context and general information are available on the EU Funding and Tenders portal under the DETOUR competitive call listing.

The DETOUR project, titled Development of Resilient Tourism Ecosystems along Mediterranean Walking Routes (Grant Agreement 101181295), provides cascade funding to support tourism SMEs through collaborative partnerships. This initiative falls under the SMP-COSME programme and aims to enhance sustainability, digital transformation, business resilience, and inclusive trail tourism along specific Mediterranean walking routes.

Key Dates and Funding Details

Opening Date:9 March 2026.

Deadline:1 June 2026, 12:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission).

Evaluation Period:1 June to 12 July 2026; results published by 13 July 2026.

Project Start:From 1 September 2026.

Duration:6 to 9 months (mandatory).

Total Budget:€800,000 available, supporting at least 30 projects overall (7-12 per country).

Grant per Project:€15,000 to €25,000; 100% funding rate (no co-financing required); 40% paid at mid-project upon interim report; minimum 60% to tourism SMEs.

Possible budget reduction only for the last-ranked project if funds are insufficient. Equipment costs capped at 30% of total budget.

Eligible Applicants and Geographic Areas

Open to SMEs in tourism or tourism-related sectors (e.g., accommodation, food services, tour operators, guiding, outdoor activities), legally established for at least 1 year, complying with EU SME definition (fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover <= €50M or balance sheet <= €43M). Applications require partnerships of 2-5 independent legal entities, with at least 50% tourism SMEs and at least one located along (or in buffer zone of) eligible routes. Each entity can join only one funded partnership.

• Italy: Via Francigena, Pavia-Rome stretch + 10 km buffer.
• Greece: Mountainous paths of Olympos, Kissavos, Mavrovouni.
• Bulgaria: Sultans Trail in Thrace Tourism Region.
• Turkiye: Lycian Way, Fethiye to Antalya + 3 km buffer.

Partnership types:only tourism SMEs; tourism SMEs + other tourism entities (DMOs, associations, sole traders); tourism SMEs + cross-sectoral partners (culture, agri-food, digital, IT, sole traders).

Project Objectives and Permissible Activities

Projects must contribute to sustainability/green transition, digital transformation, business resilience/risk management, and inclusive/accessible trail tourism.

• Development of new tourism products/services.
• Digital tools (booking systems, mapping platforms).
• Software licences for efficiency/customer experience.
• Sustainable mobility solutions.
• Green technologies/certifications.
• Market studies/business plans.
• Staff training/upskilling.
• Communication/marketing campaigns.
• Risk management planning.

Application and Evaluation Process

Submit via official online form on DETOUR project website, including:Completed Application Form, Budget Template, Proof of legal registration, Proof of tourism activity (NACE code/equivalent), Declaration of Honour. Consult full call document and national partner websites (Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Turkiye) before applying. DETOUR Funding Page EU Portal

1. 1Eligibility check (administrative compliance).
2. 2Evaluation by 2 independent experts per country on: Relevance, Quality, Feasibility, Impact (1-5 scale; min 3/5 per criterion, 12/20 total).
3. 3+1 bonus if at least one SME completed DETOUR training.
4. 4Highest-ranked funded until budget exhausted.

Post-selection:Partnership Agreement, Grant Agreement required. Contact: detour.eu.project@gmail.com.

Background and Context

DETOUR (Nov 2024-Oct 2027, €2M budget) supports Mediterranean tourism SMEs facing challenges like climate change and digital shifts via training, mentoring, and funding. Preceding SME training/mentoring (Jan-Apr 2026) offers bonus in evaluation. Info days and webinars conducted; participation in DETOUR activities recommended.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed call documents and templates available on DETOUR website and EU Funding & Tenders Portal.