During the study tour, the RTIS officials met with a number of local Associations and municipalities and witnessed the awesome beauty of the Lombardy region. Moreover, within a unique road trip identify the unique elements of the alternative tourism (eco tourism, the gastronomy, and the wine tours, agrotourism, and history culture and pilgrim) all of which are quite developed especially with the assistance of the dozens of lakeshores and the development of the 365 days alternative tourism, making the region quite unique and crowded allover the year.

RTIS officials gained a lot from this trip as other than the networking they have been thought some smart ways of introducing smart tourism allover the year in Greece and especially the regions and municipalities with whom are collaborating

The Italian alternative tourist model has many elements which Greek destinations can successfully follow. Especially on the area of branding and developing thematic packages, the our neighbors are superb, and RTIS will try to use this added value (through the gained experience) to its vast network, and trying to add a small stepping stone to the extention of the tourist period in Greece while adding some experience in developing alternative thematic touristic packages in Greek destinations

Fuel efficiency improvements – Airlines are investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft and engine technologies to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Sustainable alternative fuels – Biofuels made from sustainable sources, such as algae, are being developed and tested as a way to reduce the carbon footprint of aviation.

Carbon offsetting – Airlines are offering customers the option to offset the carbon emissions from their flights by investing in renewable energy and reforestation projects.

Improved air traffic management – Efforts are underway to make air traffic management more efficient, which can reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Reduced single-use plastics – Airlines are taking steps to reduce waste, including the use of single-use plastics, by implementing more sustainable practices and materials.

Overall, the sustainable flight is an important goal for the aviation industry, and progress is being made in several areas. However, much more work is needed to ensure that air travel can be conducted in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.

It’s worth noting that air travel is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing its environmental impact is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The future of green flights, or flights that are environmentally friendly, is an important area of focus for the aviation industry. There are several initiatives and technologies being developed to reduce the carbon footprint of flights and make air travel more sustainable.

One of the main ways the aviation industry is working to reduce emissions is by developing more fuel-efficient aircraft. This includes designing aircraft with lighter materials and more aerodynamic shapes, as well as improving engine efficiency. Another important aspect of green flights is the use of alternative fuels, such as biofuels, which have a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional fossil fuels.

In addition to these technological advancements, airlines are also looking at operational changes to reduce emissions. This includes optimizing flight routes to minimize fuel consumption, reducing the weight of aircraft by carrying only the necessary amount of fuel, and using modern air traffic control systems to reduce delays and hold times.

Finally, the aviation industry is also working on carbon offset programs, which allow airlines to offset their emissions by investing in renewable energy and other environmental projects.

Overall, the future of green flights looks promising, with a growing focus on sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of air travel. While there is still much work to be done, the industry is making strides toward a more sustainable future.

A year full of great experiences, new collaborations, several participations in international European projects, with many emotions and very great challenges.

Our network in its very first year in business has developed a fairly large network, since among others it cooperated with 11 Universities from 6 different European countries, as well as 26 organizations from 19 different countries members of the European Union and cooperating with the EU, Countries. So our network has been established with very serious partnerships and 2023 seems that it will be even more productive.

Become a member of a promising and rapidly growing network, Join RTIS!

Hypotherical Questions and Advices by RTIS Network experts

Crucial hypothetical question 1

I go fishing on my boat, and I catch trash in my nets.  What should I do?

RTIS Advice /Answer 1

• Don’t throw it back into the water! Bring it to the shore, put it in the proper bin, and throw it away. You will need to put some effort into this, but it will be well worth it for the environment and for you.

• Cooperate with other fishermen who are dealing with the same issue, inform your coastal local authority or a local civil society organization about the issues you are experiencing, and you can collaborate then work to determine what can be done.

For instance, you may start a campaign to collect marine litter or, at the very least, advocate for the establishment of free waste disposal facilities in your neighborhood port.

Crucial hypothetical question 2

As a coastal local authority, what can I do about floating marine litter?

RTIS Advice /Answer 2

You are aware personally of the issues floating marine garbage can creates for bathers, small boats, and other users of the water, as well as how it might affect the tourism. In order to prevent additional discharge, the trash must be removed from the marine environment while also addressing its primary sources. This is essentially the only direct option. If you want to clean up the ocean’s surface, you could:

• Collaborate with local fishermen to remove floating trash by offering incentives to them to throw any trash they catch in their nets during regular fishing trip or by starting marine litter collecting programs off-season.

By providing unemployed fishermen with alternate sources of income, initiatives engaging local fishermen are another option to reduce the amount of fishing that occurs in a region (as per EU standards). Regardless of the course you take, make sure everyone participating exercises caution, especially when it comes to larger or more challenging floating trash items like fishing nets.

• Ensure that adequate bins are available so that responsible fishermen, who voluntarily bring rubbish caught in their nets to port, can dispose of it without being charged, can do so.

A serious number of vacancies are likely to remain unfilled during the busy summer period, with travel agencies forecasted to be the worst hit with a 30% shortfall of workers (nearly one in three vacancies unfilled).
Meanwhile, air transport and accommodation segments are likely to suffer one in five unfilled vacancies, representing 21% and 22% staff shortage respectively.

Europe, as the leading and most competitive tourism destination in the world, is committed to becoming the most sustainable one. But the goal of the twin transition (green and digital) will only be achieved if we succeed in attracting and retaining talent for this sector.
Luis Araujo, ETC President

The two bodies believe that by implementing efficient measures, Travel & Tourism businesses will be able to attract and retain more workers.
This in turn would enable the sector to meet the ever-growing consumer demand and further speed up its recovery, which is the backbone to generating economic wellbeing across the bloc.