The NEST, Networking for Smart Tourism Development project, officially begins with the kick-off meeting held on 4 October 2018 in Tirana with the involvement of all Project Partners, the representatives of the Programme Joint Secretariat and the Albanian Institutions.

The partnership reflects the involved territories and guarantees the skills needed to deliver the project outputs. The Ministry of Finance and Economy (Albania) is the Lead Partner of the project funded under the 1st Call for Standard Projects of the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro Programme. It will coordinate the activities among the Project Partners in order to achieve the expected results.

The University of Salento (Italy – Puglia) and Tecnopolis Science and Technology Park Scarl (Italy – Puglia) are responsible for the Technical WPs, EURelations EEIG (Italy – Molise) for the implementation of the communication activities. IFAW – Independent Forum for the Albanian Woman (Albania) and NASME -  Ministry of economy, Directorate for development of SME (Montenegro) will ensure the implementation of activities on its territory in strict cooperation with the other partners. 

The Project NEST, funded under  Axis 2 – Objective SO 2.1 “Boost attractiveness of natural and cultural assets to improve a smart and sustainable economic development”, aims to sustain the process of socio-economic development in the IPA area by empowering the small and medium tourism enterprises   with innovative approaches, tools and strategies that leverage on the potentialities of digital technologies, networking and collaboration. 

NEST will favour the creation of a strategic model of “Interreg smart destination” by adopting collaborative and user-driven innovative models inspired by the Living Lab approach.