Sustainable tourism was one of the key themes addressed throughout the CENTRAL MOUNTAINS project. Rather than focusing solely on tourism promotion, the project explored governance models that help mountain destinations balance economic development with the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
Project partners worked together with regional authorities, tourism organisations, experts and local stakeholders to exchange experiences and identify innovative approaches to destination management. The cooperation also benefited from the exchange of knowledge between Alpine and Carpathian regions, allowing partners to adapt successful governance models to different regional contexts.
An important outcome of these activities is the Carpathian Sustainable Tourism Platform (CSTP), established to support long-term cooperation among organisations involved in sustainable tourism across the Carpathians. The Platform promotes knowledge exchange, networking and joint initiatives while encouraging integrated approaches to tourism development that respect the unique environmental and cultural values of mountain regions.
The experience gained through the project also contributed to the development of governance recommendations, Action Plans and practical tools that can support regional authorities and tourism stakeholders in planning sustainable tourism beyond the lifetime of the project.
By strengthening cooperation between institutions and promoting shared approaches to destination governance, CENTRAL MOUNTAINS has laid the foundations for continued collaboration in the Carpathians and beyond.