Toural Project

29/09/2026

The 5th and final TOURAL General Assembly took place in Tulcea, Danube Delta, Romania, from 16 to 18 September 2026! Hosted by our Romanian partner,the Association Local Action Group Danube Delta - Gal Delta Dunării, the meeting brought partners together onsite and online at the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Conference Hall of the Tulcea County Council to review the work completed and agree on the final steps until the end of the project in December 2026.

Between the working sessions, we discovered the cultures and traditions of Dobrogea at the Ethnography Museum of Tulcea and travelled by boat through the Delta to Sulina and Mila 23, ending the day with birdwatching among the bird colonies. 🐦

Thank you to our hosts and Roxana Iacob for the warm welcome! 💚
Read more: https://toural-project.eu/2026/09/29/the-5th-toural-general-assembly-in-tulcea-romania/

RuralTour Europe International Centre for Black Sea Studies Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation BSEC Skopelos Island Εθνικό Κέντρο Έρευνας και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης Δήμος Αλοννήσου ZADRA NOVA - Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije Provincia Di Teramo Aix-Marseille Université Balkan Heritage Field School CPMR - Conference of peripheral maritime regions International Hellenic University/Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος Національний екологічний центр України EU Science & Innovation Regione Abruzzo Кінбурн Kutsurub rural region - Toural Atlantis Consulting

TOURAL partners met in Tulcea, Romania, for the 5th General Assembly to discuss pilot progress, digital tools, validation activities, and future project actions.

28/09/2026

Some places don't just welcome you. They stay with you. 🌍

This , we're taking you through the six TOURAL pilot regions: the protected waters of Alonissos, the wild shores of Kutsurub, the mountains of Teramo, the 3,000-year-old peninsula of Nessebar, the quiet bays of Šimuni, and the Danube's last stretch at Tulcea.

Six places, far from the crowds, rich in stories that deserve to be heard. Under the sea and on land, in crafts and traditions, in nature and science, in journeys for every age.

That's why we work with local communities to help tourism grow in a way that protects what makes these places unique. 💙

Which one would you visit first? 👇



RuralTour Europe International Centre for Black Sea Studies Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation BSEC Skopelos Island Εθνικό Κέντρο Έρευνας και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης Δήμος Αλοννήσου ZADRA NOVA - Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije Provincia Di Teramo Aix-Marseille Université Balkan Heritage Field School CPMR - Conference of peripheral maritime regions International Hellenic University/Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος Національний екологічний центр України Gal Delta Dunării Atlantis Consulting Regione Abruzzo Кінбурн Kutsurub rural region - Toural

18/09/2026

We are grateful to Tulcea County Council and GAL “Danube Delta” for hosting the 5th TOURAL General Assembly and for the warm welcome to all project partners. Roxana Iacob Gal Delta Dunării Consiliul Județean Tulcea

It was a great opportunity to meet, exchange experiences and strengthen our cooperation towards more sustainable and connected rural tourism.

Thank you to all partners for the fruitful discussions and continued commitment to TOURAL! 🌍🤝

EU Science & Innovation RuralTour Europe International Centre for Black Sea Studies Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation BSEC Skopelos Island Εθνικό Κέντρο Έρευνας και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης Δήμος Αλοννήσου ZADRA NOVA - Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije Provincia Di Teramo Aix-Marseille Université Balkan Heritage Field School CPMR - Conference of peripheral maritime regions International Hellenic University/Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος Національний екологічний центр України consulting

22/06/2026

🌍 TOURAL in Action: Empowering Communities Through Citizen Science

Last month, TOURAL partners joined forces with the Kutsurub community in Ukraine to raise awareness about one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges: plastic pollution.

Through interactive presentations and hands-on activities, young people and local residents explored:
♻️ The lifecycle and impact of plastic
🌊 The reality of ocean garbage patches & microplastics
🐾 The effects on wildlife and ecosystems
💡 How everyday choices can lead to sustainable change

Participants also discovered the power of citizen science, gaining practical experience with environmental monitoring tools to assess water and air quality-turning knowledge into action.

✨ A special highlight was the installation of a biopositive plastic collection art object in the heart of Kutsurub rural region - Toural combining creativity with environmental responsibility and serving as a symbol of community engagement.

More information here: https://toural-project.eu/2026/06/03/toural-raises-environmental-awareness-through-citizen-science-event-in-the-kutsurub-community/

EU Science & Innovation RuralTour Europe International Centre for Black Sea Studies Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation BSEC Skopelos Island Εθνικό Κέντρο Έρευνας και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης Visit Alonissos Δήμος Αλοννήσου ZADRA NOVA - Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije Provincia Di Teramo Aix-Marseille Université Balkan Heritage Field School CPMR - Conference of peripheral maritime regions International Hellenic University/Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος Національний екологічний центр України Roxana Iacob Gal Delta Dunării Atlantis Consulting

15/06/2026

29/05/2026

The TOURAL consortium met in Teramo, Italy, for the project's 4th General Assembly!

Over three days, partners exchanged updates on pilot activities, digital tools, sustainability assessments, business models, dissemination efforts, and preparations for the project's validation phase.

A special training workshop also brought together partners and local stakeholders to discuss TOURAL's business modelling activities and future implementation steps, reinforcing cooperation across all pilot regions.

The event concluded with a visit to the Italian pilot site and the Knowledge Awareness Center, where participants experienced innovative ICT solutions supporting sustainable tourism and cultural heritage promotion.

Thank you to the Province of Teramo and all hosting partners for making this event a success!

More information here:
https://toural-project.eu/2026/05/29/the-4th-toural-general-assembly-in-teramo-italy/


EU Science & Innovation RuralTour Europe International Centre for Black Sea Studies Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation BSEC Skopelos Island Εθνικό Κέντρο Έρευνας και Τεχνολογικής Ανάπτυξης Kutsurub rural region - Toural Visit Alonissos Δήμος Αλοννήσου ZADRA NOVA - Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije Provincia Di Teramo Aix-Marseille Université Balkan Heritage Field School Vicky Drouga - Conference of peripheral maritime regions International Hellenic University/Διεθνές Πανεπιστήμιο της Ελλάδος Національний екологічний центр України Кінбурн Roxana Iacob Delta Dunării Consulting SA