Supporting sustainable competitiveness of tourism SME

SMP-COSME is an EISMEA call under the Single Market Programme to support the development or redesign of sustainable transnational or national touristic routes and to strengthen associated tourism ecosystems to increase the competitiveness of tourism SMEs. Consortia must include 5–8 legal entities with at least 3 Destination Management Organisations from at least 2 countries and at least 2 Business Support Organisations from at least 2 countries, and must implement a mandatory Financial Support to Third Parties scheme awarding 10–30 SMEs lump sums of €7,000–15,000. The indicative total budget is €6.9 million with expected grants of €1.2–€1.4 millionper project, funding rates of 100% for FSTP and 90% for other eligible costs, and project durations of 30–48 months. Single-stage electronic submissions via the Funding & Tenders Portal are due 20 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time and Part B is limited to 50 pages.

Supporting sustainable competitiveness of tourism SME

Call at a glance

SMP-COSME-2026-TOURSME-01

What it funds: development or consolidation of sustainable thematic or geographic touristic routes and the ecosystems around them. Actions must build route governance, deliver capacity-building for stakeholders, run a mandatory Financial Support to Third Parties scheme for tourism SMEs, and produce replication-ready best practice outputs.

Who can apply:Consortia of legal entities (public or private) established in eligible SMP countries. Minimum consortium size: 5 to 8 independent entities, including at least 3 destination management organisations (DMOs) from at least 2 different countries and at least 2 business support organisations (BSOs) from at least 2 different countries. Project teams must meet specified experience profiles.

1. 1Eligible lead applicants and partners: DMOs, BSOs, training providers, tourism SMEs, innovation hubs, regional/local authorities and similar entities.
2. 2Affiliated entities, associated partners and subcontractors are allowed under standard SMP rules.
3. 3Transnational routes must cover at least two eligible countries; national routes require at least two national routes in two different eligible countries.

Budget and award size:Total indicative call budget €6,900,000; expected to fund around 5 projects. Typical requested grant per project expected between €1,200,000 and €1,400,000. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) per SME: lump sums between €7,000 and €15,000; each project must support between 10 and 30 SMEs ¹.

Funding mechanism and rates: SMP action grants (budget-based mixed actual-cost model). FSTP costs reimbursed at 100%; other eligible costs typically reimbursed at 90% (see call documents for exact conditions). Projects normally 30 to 48 months.

Key deadlines and process

Opening date: 3 March 2026. Deadline (submission via Funding & Tenders Portal): 20 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission; evaluation and grant preparation follow EISMEA procedures.

Essential implementation points

1. 1FSTP is mandatory and must be run as a transparent call by the consortium; recipients are tourism SMEs and selection criteria must be published.
2. 2Routes must be operational and financially sustainable by the end of co-funding period; proposals should include governance, stakeholder engagement and replication plans.
3. 3Proposals limited to 50 pages (Part B). Applicants may submit only one proposal under this call.

Where to apply and key documents: Submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Required documentation includes the Call Document, Application Form Part A and Part B, detailed budget template, Model Grant Agreement and templates. Pre-submission registration (PIC) and Participant Register validation are mandatory. See topic page and call fiche for full rules and templates Topic page Call fiche ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full call rules, financial conditions, eligibility, evaluation criteria and templates are in the official call fiche and Call Document available on the Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Supporting sustainable competitiveness of tourism SME — Call Overview

Programme: Single Market Programme (SMP), COSME strand. Topic: SMP-COSME. Type of action: SMP-GFS (SMP Grants for Financial Support) under an SMP Action Grant Budget-Based [SMP-AG]. Managing Agency: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Official topic page: EU Funding & Tenders Portal — SMP-COSME-2026-TOURSME-01. Call fiche: Call document (PDF). Model Grant Agreement: SMP General MGA.

Timing and Budget

Purpose and Scope

This call supports consortia to establish or redesign sustainable thematic and/or geographic touristic routes and to strengthen the local and transnational tourism ecosystems built around them. It targets the sustainable competitiveness, innovation, digitalisation, resilience and quality of European tourism SMEs, in line with the Tourism Transition Pathway and broader EU policy frameworks (green and digital transitions, circular economy, biodiversity, sustainable mobility, skills). Routes must be fully operational and self-sustainable by the end of the co-funding period and embedded in a structured ecosystem involving DMOs, SMEs and relevant stakeholders.

What Will Be Funded — Mandatory Work Packages and Activities

• Work Package 1: Establishment or Redesign of the Route and the Ecosystem. Activities include defining or refining the route concept and thematic framework; updating points of interest and experiences; mapping and engaging stakeholders (SMEs, DMOs, authorities, NGOs, training providers, innovation hubs); setting governance, target users, KPIs and impact frameworks; delivering route strategy and business plan; formalising stakeholder commitment via MoUs/Letters of Intent; establishing a governance body or model.
• Work Package 2: Development and Engagement of the Route’s Ecosystem. Dual focus: (2.1) Stakeholder engagement and capacity-building (co-creation workshops, youth engagement programmes, networking/site visits, training on sustainable practices, digital tools including AI/data, risk management, finance and marketing, inclusivity/accessibility); (2.2) Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) for SMEs via open calls run by the consortium (see dedicated section below).
• Work Package 3: Communication, Promotion and Branding of the Route Ecosystem. Activities include communication and branding strategy aligned with EC communication indicators and synergies with Destination Europe / national Visit portals; coherent visual identity; multi-channel campaigns; events; social media; and development or upgrade of digital tools (websites, apps, interactive maps, booking interfaces).
• Work Package 4: Production of Best Practices and Case Studies. Document best practices, case studies, lessons learned; produce replication toolkits and training packages; organise knowledge-sharing and disseminate results via the EU Tourism Platform.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) — Direct Support to SMEs

Consortia must design and implement an FSTP scheme offering small lump-sum grants to tourism SMEs whose activities directly contribute to the establishment, consolidation, and sustainability of the route ecosystem and to the twin transition. The scheme must be transparent, competitive, and aligned with the route strategy.

• Eligible recipients: SMEs active within the route ecosystem (do not need to be geographically established inside the route perimeter but must concretely contribute to the route’s tourist or economic activity). This includes traditional tourism SMEs (accommodation, gastronomy, guides, tour operators, travel agents, local supply chain actors, heritage-related construction), digital solution providers (e.g. AR, booking, CRM), and tech infrastructure developers (smart-tourism tools, data systems).
• Eligible SME activities: development/implementation of new products/services/business concepts aligned to the route; digital innovation (AI, AR/VR, e-commerce, CRM, data analytics, accessibility solutions); sustainability actions (EU Ecolabel/EMAS, GHG reduction, resource efficiency, circularity, climate adaptation); risk and business continuity; cross-sector integration (culture/CCI, agri-food, leisure, sport, digital, construction, textiles, proximity/social economy); branding/promotion; low-impact mobility and short supply chains; certifications and impact measurement.
• Grant size per SME: €7,000 to €15,000 (lump sum). Consortia must define clear sets of lump-sum levels and criteria for allocation.
• Number of SME awards: between 10 and 30 SMEs per project; applicants are encouraged to maximise the number of SMEs supported.
• FSTP Calls: must be open for at least 2 months; adhere to EU standards on transparency, equal treatment, conflict of interest, confidentiality; publish awarded SME lists, award dates, durations, and SME names/countries on the participants’ websites.
• Selection criteria for SMEs: relevance to ecosystem objectives, feasibility, SME capacity and commitment; robust quality assurance and monitoring by the consortium.
• Important: FSTP is a monetary transaction from beneficiaries to SMEs. Vouchers or in-kind supports are declared under other budget categories. SMEs freely choose service providers; if advisory lists are offered, they must be set transparently with pre-defined criteria. The consortium cannot impose providers.

Expected Outcomes and Monitoring

• Strengthened sustainable competitiveness of the European tourism ecosystem; enhanced SME resilience and uptake of sustainability, digitalisation and innovation.
• Balanced territorial development by addressing over-tourism and under-tourism, promoting diversification and seasonality reduction, and shifting flows toward rural, coastal, insular, remote and less-developed areas.
• Advancement of the twin transition (green and digital) through sustainable practices, circularity and data-driven solutions.
• Cross-border and cross-sectoral cooperation and knowledge exchange along value chains.
• Indicative indicators collected by EISMEA: number of countries and partners in transnational projects; replicability and relevance to Transition Pathway for Tourism; quality and impact of dissemination of results; number of SMEs supported.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

• Applicants: Legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries. Examples of relevant eligible entities include Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), Business Support Organisations (BSOs), training institutions, local administrations, national competence centres, professional trade associations, destination branding agencies, technology providers (TravelTech), environmental and heritage NGOs, tourism observatories, and transport/mobility authorities.
• Ineligible as beneficiaries: EU bodies (except JRC), and natural persons (unless self-employed sole traders without separate legal personality). International organisations are eligible. Entities without legal personality may participate under specific conditions. Entities under EU restrictive or budget protection measures are ineligible.
• Eligible countries: EU Member States (including OCTs); and non-EU countries that are EEA or associated to the Single Market Programme (SMP/SME pillar), or in ongoing association negotiations that enter into force before grant signature. See list of participating countries on the Portal topic page.
• Consortium composition: 5 to 8 independent entities; at least 3 DMOs from at least 2 different eligible countries; at least 2 BSOs from at least 2 different eligible countries.
• Route configuration requirements: The consortium must establish and develop either (a) at least one transnational route covering minimum two eligible countries; or (b) if no transnational route, a minimum of two national routes implemented in two different eligible countries. Proposals with more routes are encouraged. For national route-only proposals, justify the added value of an international consortium and DMO partnerships.
• One proposal rule: Each applicant (beneficiary/affiliated entity) may submit only one proposal under this call.

Funding Model, Rates and Project Size

Evaluation and Award

• Single-stage submission and single-step evaluation with eligibility/admissibility checks.
• Award criteria and thresholds (maximum 100 points; overall minimum 70): Relevance (max 30; min 16); Quality — Project design and implementation (max 30; min 16); Quality — Project team and cooperation (max 30; min 16); Impact (max 10; min 6).
• Ex aequo priorities: coverage of different themes; higher Relevance score; then higher Impact; then higher Quality; then portfolio balance and synergies.
• Indicative timetable: Evaluation June–July 2026; information to applicants Aug–Sep 2026; GA signature Oct–Nov 2026.

Application Process and Required Templates

• Submission: Electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System only. Use the topic’s specific forms inside the system.
• Application parts: Part A (online admin data and summary budget); Part B (technical description in the downloadable template, max 50 pages); Annexes.
• Mandatory annexes: Detailed budget table (COSME GFS 90% Excel template uploaded as Excel), CVs of core team (preferably Europass), List of previous key projects in last 4 years (table in Part B), potential Letters of Intent (stakeholders) under Other annexes.
• Templates and references: Standard proposal template (COSME) in the Submission System; Detailed budget template (COSME GFS 90%); SMP MGA; EU Grants AGA—Annotated; Portal Online Manual. Application form family reference: SMP COSME Application Form (example).
• Page limit and formatting: Part B limited to 50 pages; evaluators disregard excess pages; maintain readability/printability.
• Support: EISMEA helpdesk EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu; IT Helpdesk via Portal; Enterprise Europe Network; IP Helpdesk.

Minimum Team Capacity Requirements

• Project Manager/Coordinator with at least 5 years of transnational project management experience.
• Deputy Project Manager/Coordinator with at least 3 years of transnational project management experience.
• Two experts with at least 3 years in communication and PR.
• One expert with at least 5 years in capacity-building.
• One expert with at least 3 years in SME support/consultancy in the tourism sector.

Governance, Compliance and Financial Administration

• Consortium Agreement: Required. Define internal roles, distribution of funding, IP, decision-making, dispute resolution, and payment flows.
• Reporting and payments: Initial prefinancing (normally around 70% of maximum grant), one interim payment at midterm, and balance at end; periodic technical and financial reporting via Portal. No-profit rule applies (may lead to reduction at final payment if applicable).
• Certificates: CFS required per standard thresholds (€325,000 of requested contribution per beneficiary), unless exempt per MGA.
• Record-keeping: Keep all supporting documentation for at least 5 years after final payment (3 years for grants not more than €60,000).
• Legal-ethical: Conflict of interest avoidance; confidentiality and, where applicable, classified information treatment; data protection (GDPR/Reg 2018/1725); EU values compliance; communication visibility rules including EU emblem and funding statement.

Answers to Categorisation Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Legal entities only. Typical eligible applicants and partners include: destination management organisations (DMOs), business support organisations (BSOs: incubators/accelerators, innovation hubs, universities, research centres, training institutions), local/regional/national administrations, national competence centres, professional trade associations, destination branding agencies, technology providers (TravelTech), environmental and heritage NGOs, tourism observatories, transport and mobility authorities. International organisations are eligible. Natural persons are not eligible (except self-employed sole traders with no separate legal personality). EU institutions and most EU bodies cannot apply as beneficiaries.

Funding Type:Grant (SMP Action Grant) with a compulsory Grants for Financial Support (GFS) component to fund third-party SMEs via FSTP.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required: 5–8 independent entities. At least 3 DMOs from at least 2 different eligible countries, and at least 2 BSOs from at least 2 different eligible countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including OCTs) and countries associated to the Single Market Programme (EEA and SMP-associated) or in ongoing association negotiations entering into force before grant signature.

Target Sector:Tourism and travel ecosystem with strong intersections across sustainability, environment, digitalisation/ICT (including AI and data), culture and creative industries, mobility and transport (including cycling/water-based and last-mile), local agri-food and gastronomy, heritage conservation, circular economy, resilience and risk management, accessibility and inclusive tourism.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are named for targeting; the call applies to EU Member States (including OCTs) and SMP-associated countries (EEA/other associated). Routes can be national or transnational across eligible countries.

Project Stage:Development to implementation and consolidation. Projects may cover conceptualisation/redesign of routes, capacity building, deployment of solutions, route governance, and market uptake. Aim is fully operational, self-sustaining routes by project end.

Funding Amount:Indicative grant per project €1,200,000 to €1,400,000. Total call budget €6,900,000 with an expectation to fund around 5 projects. FSTP to SMEs ranges from €7,000 to €15,000 per SME, with 10–30 SMEs per project.

Application Type:Open call; single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Monetary grants to consortia; monetary sub-grants (FSTP) to SMEs; and non-monetary services such as training, mentoring, advisory and ecosystem building.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation).

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation. Approximately 5 projects expected to be funded subject to the quality and number of proposals.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Funding rates are 90% for most cost categories and 100% for FSTP. Beneficiaries must co-fund the remaining 10% of non-FSTP eligible costs and cover any non-eligible costs.

Proposal Structuring Aids — Template Outline (Part B)

1. 1Project Summary: concise abstract aligned to call scope.
2. 21. Relevance: background and general objectives; needs analysis and specific measurable objectives with indicators; complementarity with other actions and innovation; transnational EU added value.
3. 32. Quality: concept and methodology; consortium set-up (roles of DMOs, BSOs and other partners); project teams, staff and experts (match the minimum capacity requirements and attach CVs); consortium management and decision-making; project management and M&E framework with indicators; cost effectiveness and financial management; risk management with likelihood/impact and mitigation.
4. 43. Impact: expected short-, medium-, and long-term effects; target groups and benefits; ambition beyond state-of-the-art; quantitative targets including SMEs to be supported; communication, dissemination, visibility plan (EU emblem and disclaimer rules); sustainability and continuation (post-grant governance and business model).
5. 54. Work Plan, Work Packages, Activities, Resources and Timing: minimum 4 WPs as per call (1: Route and ecosystem set-up, 2: Engagement and FSTP, 3: Communication/branding/digital tools, 4: Best practices/case studies); tasks, milestones, deliverables with due months; clear mapping of beneficiaries leading and contributing to tasks; detailed Gantt.
6. 6Annexes: Detailed budget Excel (COSME GFS 90%); CVs of core team; list of previous projects (last 4 years); Letters of Intent from stakeholders (optional but encouraged); any other required documents.

Key Compliance Reminders

• Respect single-proposal rule per applicant under this call.
• FSTP calls must be open at least 2 months and results published on participant websites.
• Project websites: costs for presenting the project on participants’ existing websites or social media are eligible; costs for separate project websites are not eligible.
• Subcontracting of core project management is not allowed; keep subcontracting limited and justified.
• Ensure strong DMO leadership in ecosystem facilitation and governance; show bottom-up co-creation with SMEs and stakeholders.
• Align communication metrics with European Commission communication indicators; ensure synergies with Destination Europe and national Visit portals.

How to Start

• Create EU Login and register all participants in the Participant Register to obtain PICs.
• Access the Electronic Submission Service from the topic page and select the correct action and MGA type.
• Download the Part B template and budget Excel from inside the Submission System.
• Assemble the consortium meeting DMO/BSO minima and geographic spread; prepare Letters of Intent from local authorities and stakeholders.
• Design an FSTP scheme with clear lump-sum tiers, selection criteria, monitoring, and a plan to maximise the number of SMEs supported (10–30).
• Define governance, KPI framework, business plan and sustainability model to ensure routes are fully operational and self-sustaining by project end.

Long Summary — What this Opportunity Is About

SMP-COSME funds multinational consortia led by Destination Management Organisations and Business Support Organisations to create, revamp and scale sustainable touristic routes and the ecosystems around them, with tourism SMEs at the core. The programme couples capacity-building, governance, digital and green transition measures with direct financial support to SMEs via small sub-grants (€7,000–15,000), ensuring tangible improvements in products, services, business models, sustainability certifications, digital tools and inclusive practices. Projects must set up a robust, participatory governance, deliver coordinated branding and promotion aligned with EU frameworks, deploy user-centric digital interfaces, and leave a durable footprint: a fully operational and self-sustained route ecosystem that diversifies offerings, reduces seasonality, spreads benefits to rural and less-developed areas, and enhances resilience to shocks. The grant funds about 90% of most eligible costs and 100% of SME sub-grants; each consortium must include 5–8 entities with at least 3 DMOs from 2 countries and 2 BSOs from 2 countries. Proposals are single-stage, due 20 May 2026. Successful projects will combine strong stakeholder engagement and training with effective FSTP and evidence-based monitoring to demonstrate increased SME competitiveness, sustainability, digital intensity, and replicable best practices across the European tourism ecosystem.

SMP-COSME-2026-TOURSME-01: Supporting Sustainable Competitiveness of Tourism SMEs

This call for proposals under the Single Market Programme (SMP) aims to enhance the sustainable competitiveness of tourism SMEs by supporting the development and consolidation of sustainable touristic routes and strengthening associated tourism ecosystems. It aligns with the Tourism Transition Pathway and focuses on fostering green and digital transitions, innovation, resilience, and quality along the tourism value chain.

Key Objectives

General objectives include leveraging tourism for sustainable economic growth, job creation, and regional development, particularly in less-developed areas; strengthening global competitiveness through innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability; promoting regional cooperation; and enhancing resilience to climate, economic, and market challenges.

• Creation of thematic and/or geographic touristic routes involving stakeholders and mobilising ecosystems.
• Support for balanced tourism development, addressing over-tourism and under-tourism.
• Promotion of diversification, regenerative tourism, and special-interest tourism (cultural, gastronomic, sports, nature-based).
• Contribution to local community well-being and sustainable development.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

Qualitative and quantitative indicators include: number of countries and partners in transnational projects; replicability and relevance to Tourism Transition Pathway; quality of dissemination; and number of SMEs supported. Impacts encompass strengthened competitiveness, enhanced SME resilience, greater adoption of sustainability and digitalisation, and balanced territorial development.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States (including OCTs) or associated countries. Consortia must comprise 5-8 independent entities, including at least 3 Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) from at least 2 countries and 2 Business Support Organisations (BSOs) from at least 2 countries. Natural persons are ineligible except self-employed persons.

Route Configurations:Minimum one transnational route (covering at least 2 eligible countries) or two national routes in different countries, with explanation of international added value. Higher numbers encouraged. Routes must be fully operational and self-sustainable by project end.

Eligible Activities

Mandatory work packages: 1) Establishment/Redesign of Route and Ecosystem; 2) Development and Engagement (stakeholder capacity building and Financial Support to Third Parties - FSTP); 3) Communication, Promotion, Branding; 4) Best Practices and Case Studies.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

Mandatory transparent, competitive scheme for 10-30 tourism SMEs (lump sums €7,000-15,000 each). Supports route-related innovations, digital/green transitions, certifications, and cross-sector cooperation. SMEs eligible if active in route ecosystem (e.g., accommodation, gastronomy, digital providers). Calls must be open at least 2 months; outcomes published.

Funding Details

Budget:Total €6,900,000; expected 5 projects at €1,200,000-1,400,000 each. Funding rate: 100% for FSTP; 90% for other costs. Project duration: 30-48 months. Indirect costs: 7% flat-rate.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Single-stage submission. Thresholds: Relevance (16/30), Quality - Design (16/30), Quality - Team (16/30), Impact (6/10); overall 70/100. Criteria: Relevance (30 pts), Quality (60 pts), Impact (10 pts). Operational capacity requires specific expert profiles (e.g., Project Manager with 5+ years transnational experience).

Timeline

Submission and Documents

Electronic submission via Funding & Tenders Portal. Part B limited to 50 pages. Required: Detailed budget (COSME GFS 90%), previous projects list, core team CVs, Letters of Intent. Proposal page limits and layout per call document.

Apply via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Call document: Call Fiche.

Support and Contacts

Contact: EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu. Info session: 13 April 2026. Resources: SMP Work Programme, EU Financial Regulation, Online Manual, Enterprise Europe Network.

Key Considerations for Applicants

• Emphasise transnational cooperation and SME impact (maximise FSTP reach).
• Demonstrate route self-sustainability post-funding.
• Align with Tourism Transition Pathway and EU strategies (e.g., Digital Compass 2030, EU Pact for Skills).¹
• Ensure compliance with ethics, data protection, visibility rules.
• Prepare for audits (5 years record-keeping).

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed guidance in call fiche and SMP documents available via EU Funding Portal.