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The DIBEST project brings together European partners in Galicia to advance the digitalisation of microenterprises in the blue tourism sector
Málaga TechPark took part in the in-person meeting of the European project DIBEST – Digital Innovation for Blue Enterprises and Social Tourism, held on 7 and 8 October in A Pobra do Caramiñal (Galicia, Spain).
The meeting, organised by the Galician Association of Nautical Activities (AGAN), brought together all project partners to review the progress made and coordinate the next steps towards promoting the digital transformation of the blue tourism sector.
DIBEST: driving digital transformation in blue tourism
The DIBEST project, co-funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme, aims to support the digitalisation of microenterprises in the blue economy and sustainable tourism sectors across coastal regions of the European Atlantic area, including Andalusia.
The consortium is made up of eleven partners from Spain, Portugal, France and Ireland, including the Western Development Commission (Ireland), RDI Hub (Ireland), Munster Technological University (Ireland), EM Normandie Business School (France), Málaga TechPark (Spain), Promálaga (Spain), University of Málaga (Spain), Sines Tecnopolo (Portugal), University of Algarve (Portugal), NERA – Business Association of the Algarve Region (Portugal), and the Galician Association of Nautical Activities – AGAN+ (Spain).
Together, these organisations work to provide digital tools, training and tailored mentoring to coastal tourism microenterprises, helping them improve their competitiveness, innovation and long-term sustainability.
A meeting to share progress and strengthen collaboration
During the meeting, the partners presented the progress made in the personalised mentoring phase, which is currently supporting 68 microenterprises across the four participating countries.
Each business is receiving one-to-one guidance from expert mentors to design and implement its own digitalisation plan, tailored to its specific needs, capacities and business context.
In addition, partners reviewed the progress made in developing the DIBEST Digital Toolkit, a practical resource that will provide guides, tools and digital solutions tailored to the needs of small businesses in the coastal tourism sector. The toolkit aims to facilitate access to technology and support the adoption of innovative solutions that enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the blue economy.
The consortium also discussed the upcoming national workshops to be held in Spain, Portugal and Ireland, aimed at encouraging peer learning, sharing inspiring experiences and creating synergies among stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem.
The first national workshop, held on 16 June in Normandy (Calvados, France), was a great success. The event brought together professionals and experts from the sector for a comprehensive programme that included sessions on Google Digital Workshops, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence applied to tourism marketing, and presentations by AFNIC – Internet Made in France and France Numérique.
This initial experience confirmed the value and relevance of these forums in promoting digital adoption and knowledge exchange among actors in the blue tourism sector.
The project will conclude with a final transnational workshop, where partners will present the project’s results and promote the transfer of the DIBEST methodology to other European regions, ensuring the project’s long-term impact and sustainability.