<< Background >>Due to COVID 19 epidemic, tourism industry has been hit extremely hard as restrictions to international travel have caused a decline of the tourism economy at least between 45 and 70% (OCDE). While this can be seen as unprecedented economic crisis of our era, especially to countries that rely on tourism as a drive for economic development, it also represents an opportunity to shift tendencies and to strength economic resilience, especially in local areas.“Blue Tourism” refers to all tourism activities developed around any watercourse (rivers, lakes, seas). If in one hand, tourism is highly dependent on the natural ecosystems to attract visitors, on the other hand, it produces critical environmental and social impacts on natural resources and local communities. The Blue Economy concept must go beyond seeing the water economy only as a mechanism for economic growth, it must improve human wellbeing, social equity and reduce environmental risks and ecological disasters.Sustainable tourism must make appropriate use of environmental resources, respect the socio-cultural authenticity of communities and ensure that economic activities are viable in the long term. It also requires the informed participation of stakeholders, constant monitoring of its impacts, maintaining a high level of satisfaction among tourists (UNMTO).The “BLUE TOURISM – Build a network of local advisors to put small tourism providers in watercourse regions on a more sustainable path” project represents an opportunity to rethink tourism as a whole, by shifting more decisively from over tourism models to existing sustainable tourism models. In this context, watercourses are the common link between the eight countries – Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Romania and Ireland – that integrate the project consortium. The BLUE TOURISM consortium aims at contributing to local sustainable tourism development through the capacity building of small tourism providers.<< Objectives >>The aim is to equip a network of future local advisors with the necessary competences so they can support and advice small tourism providers in watercourse regions to be more sustainable and competitive, with a strategic focus on: 1. Sustainable Tourism and SDGs; 2 Ethics and Social Responsibility; 3. Natural and Cultural Heritage; 4. Competitiveness and Sustainable Local Business Development; 5. Innovation and Digital Transformation; 6. Networking and Local Partnerships. 7. Branding and Digital Marketing; 8. Internationalisation Strategy.<< Implementation >>To achieve this goal, the BLUE TOURISM consortium will:1. develop one methodological framework.2. map eight case studies and eight best practices ofsustainable tourism initiatives in watercourse regions.3. design and produce one a training curriculum in eight competence areas, referencing a new competence model for the profile of the sustainable tourism advisor/provider. This curriculum will comprise an explicit set of learning outcomes aligned with EU frameworks (EQF, ECVET and EQAVET).4. develop a package with a set of tailored e-learning training materials to equip and enhance the BLUE TOURISM advisor green skills.5. deliver a training pilot addressed to train 70 new sustainable tourism advisors and 35 small tourism providers in watercourse regions.6. design and develop an digital portal (in OER format) providing instant and free access to the full suite of learning resources produced.7. produce 14 into-action videos, a set of inspirational and awareness raising short presenting the target groups experience in the project and to also promote these local regions as environmental sustainability promoters and sustainable touristic destinations.<< Results >>During the project life-cycle, partners are expecting to develop the following project results:Result 1 - BLUE TOURISM e-portfolio: methodological framework to map sustainable tourism initiatives in watercourse regions to be used as case studies, strategies and best practices examples in the development of the BLUE TOURISM training curriculum. This conceptual framework will be designed and presented as an interactive e-portfolio (electronic portfolio). Result 2 - BLUE TOURISM advisor profile and resources package: a blended learning training curriculum, mainly addressed at small tourism providers, on sustainable tourism and local development, oriented to promote the sustainable and efficient use of natural, cultural, and economic resources in watercourse regions.Result 3 - BLUE TOURISM digital space and into-action videos: a multilingual digital space as a single window offering open and instant access to the BLUE TOURISM learning materials and into-action a set of inspirational and awareness raising short films emerging from the different implementation phases of the project (reflections, lessons learned, local activities and specific projects, workshops, etc.).