Carthage, November 1, 2019 - The  launch of MEDUSA project "Development and Promotion of Mediterranean Sustainable Adventure Tourism", was celebrated on November, 1st in Catgage (Tunisia) with the aim of addressing tourism challenges through cross-border interventions targeted at the region to develop and promote adventure tourism as a sustainable niche in the tourist market. The project offers the opportunity to reveal less-known destinations and attract tourists throughout the year in five countries: Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Jordan and Tunisia. Data from the Adventure Tourism Report, prepared by the World Tourism Organization, furthermore reveals that 65.6 % of total travel costs of an adventure tourism package remain in the territory for the benefit of local communities and economies.

The launch was held at the in Carthage, Tunisia in the presence of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona (Spain) as the leader on the project, with the partners from Italy (Puglia Region), Tunisia (WWF North Africa), Jordan (Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature), Lebanon (René Moawad Foundation) and with the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) in addition to Samira Rafrari, Director for Cross-Border Cooperation – Ministry of Investment, Development and International,  Elleuch, interim General Director of Forests – Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Joumana Sweiss, Programme officer for ENI CBC Med Branch Office for Western Mediterranean. During the opening conference each partner presented his part on the project including the project approach, strategy and impact, tourism assessment process, project management, communication and capitalisation, tourism capacity building process, sound management of the project, and promotion and commercialisation of tourism. A steering committee was also formed to manage and control the key activities of the project.

The MEDUSA project has a global budget of 3.3 million euros and is co-financed by the European Union under the Mediterranean Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme of the European Neighborhood Instrument (ENI CBC Med), which contributes 2,9 million euros, 90% of the total project budget. The set of actions of the project are scheduled to be completed in 2022.