Alter Eco Project

The Alter Eco project has the aim of improving the balance between tourist attractions as a source of economic growth, and conserving the classic model of the Mediterranean city as an example of sustainability.

Visit Valencia joined the international project led by the Valencian Institute of Housing - IVE as an associate partner in December 2016, with the aim of becoming one of the pilot destinations for the implementation of alternative tourism strategies co-designed and implemented by public-private stakeholders.

• Reducing the concentration of tourists in hot spots where the carrying capacity is exceeded, by diversifying the offer.
• Highlighting the value of destination differentiation, reinforcing the identity and visibility of the Mediterranean and promoting local tradition and common cultural heritage.
• Improving the coordination of actions between public and private stakeholders aimed at implementing the strategies put forward for creating new business opportunities.

• The main actions to be developed include analysing situations considered to be hot spots: collecting data, updating indicators linked to the Mediterranean city model. 
• This will also include selecting alternative itineraries that showcase new areas of tourist interest, as well as the creation of working groups with key stakeholders, including businesses, residents, tourist services and municipal areas to work on these alternatives supported by specific campaigns.
• In addition, innovate ICTs will be applied for analysing tourist movements and monitoring actions and the effectiveness of the new itineraries. Finally, actions must consolidate tourism diversification strategies that facilitate new business opportunities.

• IVE Valencian Institute of Building (Department of Housing, Public Works and Regional Cohesion)
• Malaga City Council.
• Municipality of Genoa.
• Ca' Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE). 
• City of Dubrovnik. 
• Larnaca-Famagusta Districts Development Agency (ANETEL).
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).
• South Aegean Region (RSA).
• The European City of Culture, Tourism and Development - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (CCTD).
• Observatory on Tourism in the European Islands (OTIE).