Traditional Crafts Route for Sustainable Cultural Tourism Development (DanubeCrafts)
Within the DanubeCrafts partnership, 18 project partners from 11 Danube Region countries join forces to preserve, promote, and sustainably enhance traditional crafts as a driver of cultural tourism and rural development. Through the establishment of a transnational Traditional Crafts Route (TCR), the project leverages cultural heritage to support local employment, strengthen community identities, and diversify the regional economy. It places special focus on vulnerable groups and youth by fostering innovation, entrepreneurial capacity, and sustainable business models in the crafts and tourism sectors.
The broad partnership brings together universities, regional development agencies, innovation centers, and cultural tourism actors, pooling complementary knowledge and ensuring cross-sectoral collaboration.
Programme: Interreg Danube Region 2021-2027
Duration: 01.06.2025 – 30.11.2027 (30 months)
Budget:
Total EU budget: 2.083.600,00 EURO
Partner’s budget: 130.000,00 EURO
Lead partner: National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (RO)
Other partners:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa (BG)
Vukovar-Srijem County (HR)
Pannon Business Network Association (HU)
National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism (RO)
Romanian Association for Technology Transfer and Innovation (RO)
Steinbeis 2i GmbH (DE)
Department for Development and International Projects of Zenica-Doboj (BA)
Economica GmbH (AT)
School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica (SI)
Regional Agency for Socio-Economic Development - Banat Ltd (RS)
Tourist Board of Međimurje County (HR)
South Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (HU)
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (AT)
South Bohemian Agency for Support to Innovation (CZ)
Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije (ME)
"Ion Creanga" Pedagogical State University from Chisinau (MD)
PONG.Li Studios GmbH (DE)
Project Objective: The aim of the project is to support the sustainable development of cultural tourism in the Danube Region by revitalizing traditional crafts and integrating them into structured tourism offers. By establishing a certified Traditional Crafts Route (TCR), DanubeCrafts contributes to local economic development, social inclusion, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. The initiative focuses on combining innovation and tradition to create new value chains, empower local communities, and foster cross-border cooperation in the crafts-tourism nexus.
According to this approach, traditional crafts are not only cultural assets but also engines of transformation that can lead to inclusive, sustainable, and thematic tourism experiences rooted in authenticity.
Challenges:
The project addresses several key regional and thematic challenges:
Loss of traditional knowledge: Declining intergenerational transmission of craft skills and traditions.
Limited market access for artisans: Lack of structured tourism integration and visibility for craftspeople.
Rural economic vulnerability: Scarce employment opportunities and economic stagnation in remote areas.
Fragmentation of tourism offers: Weak cross-border coordination and thematic development in cultural tourism.
Expected Results:
Operational Traditional Crafts Route (TCR): A functional, certified route promoting traditional crafts as part of cultural tourism itineraries.
Enhanced capacity of artisans and tourism actors: Through innovative training, certification, and strategic planning tools.
Digital promotion and visibility: Mobile applications, toolkits, and storytelling platforms to increase access and engagement.
Sustainable tourism and business models: Rooted in slow travel, local heritage, and community-based entrepreneurship.
Stronger transnational cooperation: Alignment of regional policies and cross-sector synergies in the crafts and tourism sectors.
Key Outputs:
Joint Strategy & Regional Action Plans: For integrating crafts and tourism across the Danube Region.
InnoCraft Training Methodology: Tailored entrepreneurial and innovation skills programme for artisans.
CraftBiz Impact Kit: A business development toolkit supporting strategic and operational planning.
Traditional Crafts Route Itineraries: Designed and promoted via web and mobile tools.
Pilot Routes & Certification: Testing of three TCR routes and initiation of European Cultural Route certification process.
