Transdanube.Pearls – Network for Sustainable Mobility along the Danube

Within the 2,5 years of implementation TRANSDANUBE.PEARLS will establish a network of destinations committed to sustainable mobility in tourism– the “Transdanube.Pearls”. Being part of this network will increase the visibility of the participating destinations offering their visitors the unique possibility to travel the Danube with sustainable means of transport.

The partnership is now covering eight countries along Danube resp. nine out of the 14 countries of the programme area. The Danube Competence Center acting on the transitional level will strengthen the transnational approach of the project. The majority of partners are representing regions, respectively the regional authorities and development agencies, dealing with various topics like transport and economic development including tourism, all experienced in transnational projects and committed to sustainable mobility. The integration of a Slovenian partner will help to spread the idea to the tributaries of the Danube and further on to the whole Danube region.

The partners have identified additional stakeholder necessary for a successful project implementation, which will be involved during the whole project lifetime. Associated partners (ASPs) from the national and regional level will provide the necessary political back up and possible financing. ASPs from the local level as well as from transport operators, destination managements and tour operators will be important partners for the implementation of the project activities.

Short description of the operation:

The project main objective is to provide sustainable, socially fair, economically viable, environmentally friendly and health promoting mobility.

To reach the projects main result, the project TRANSDANUBE.PEARLS is following an intersectoral approach, combining the transport and the tourism sector, where cooperation at the moment is still weak.

Central element of the project is the ESTABLISHMENT OF A NETWORK with responsible institutions on the regional level being supported by a transnational roof organisation. This network will be based on common standards for sustainable mobility in tourism.

The building of the network will be accompanied by increasing the CAPACITY OF THE RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS to bring forward the concept of sustainable mobility. Trainings and mutual learning activities (workshops and site visits) will raise awareness for the benefits resulting from sustainable mobility as well as increase the capability of the relevant stakeholders to bring forward the concept of sustainable mobility in tourism after the project lifetime.

In order to overcome gaps especially on the last mile and within destinations Transdanube.Pearls will develop NEW SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SERVICES. By better combining public transport and cycling the project will improve intermodal travel chains which will increase the quality and resilience of the whole transport system.

Furthermore the project will take activities to prove easy accessibly and user friendly INFORMATION. Mobility information centers will act as one-stop-shops for the provision of integrated tourism mobility information as well as be the interface between user requirements and mobility service providers.

By providing easy accessibly and user friendly information on existing and continuously improving possibilities to get to the Pearls, to move within the Pearls and to improve the connections between the Pearls without private car, based on a transnational cooperation and marketing strategy the network will strengthen its position on the international tourism market resulting in more tourists visiting the Danube regions – sustainably.