RARE ROUTES: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Responsible Tourism

The RARE ROUTES project (Call 2020, Round 1 KA202) represents one of the milestones of IIS Mosè Bianchi’s international dimension, ranking first in Italy in the national merit list for Strategic Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Coordinated by our Institute, the initiative addressed the urgent need to modernize tourism curricula through digital transition and social inclusion, promoting Responsible Tourism (RT) as a powerful vehicle for active citizenship and youth self-entrepreneurship.

---

Project Technical Sheet

Item	Details
Project Code	2020-1-IT01-KA202-008397
Duration	36 Months (November 1, 2020 – October 31, 2023)
IIS Bianchi Role	Coordinator / Lead Applicant
European Platform	View on Erasmus+ Project Results Platform

---

The Transnational Partnership

The project brought together a cross-sectoral network composed of 7 partner organizations across 3 European countries:

• Italy: IIS Mosè Bianchi (Lead School), Betania Società Cooperativa Sociale, ICEI (Istituto Cooperazione Economica Internazionale).
• Iceland: Keilir Academy, Markaðsstofa Reykjaness (Destination Management Organization - DMO).
• Turkey: Evliya Çelebi Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi, DamATra Ticaret Limited Şirketi (Specialized Tour Operator).

---

Objectives and Lines of Action

The project developed around three macro-operational objectives:

1. Skills and Employability: Developing students' skills as Travel Reporters and Travel Managers through pilot lessons, "Learning on the Job" internship mobilities, and the organization of 3 international Summer Schools (Italy, Iceland, and Turkey).
2. Institutional Capacity: Strengthening the digital and methodological skills of teachers and trainers in non-formal education and business mentorship.
3. Dissemination and Sustainability: Building stable local networks between schools and regional actors to ensure the long-term continuity of the tourist itineraries created by the students.

---

Tangible Results (Intellectual Outputs)

The three years of cooperation led to the creation of four innovative, fully digital, and open-access tools:

• [O1] "RARE ROUTES" Educational Modules A comprehensive training curriculum structured into 5 modules (ranging from the basics of sustainable tourism to launching tourism startups) permanently integrated into standard school curricula.
• [O2] Digital Educational Game A business simulation software based on gamification, allowing students to virtually create, manage, and test sustainable tourism agencies and travel packages.
• [O3] Responsible Tourism Wiki Portal A large collaborative database collecting destinations, unique itineraries mapped directly by students on the field, and zero-impact startup ideas.
• [O4] Certification System with Open Badges A digital framework designed to map, validate, and certify both technical skills (planning, marketing) and soft skills (teamwork, intercultural communication) gained by the students.

---

Project Impact and Numbers

Despite the logistical complexities brought by the pandemic, the network successfully adapted its activities, fully hitting its quality targets:

• Over 150 students (aged 15-19) directly involved in pilot pathways and mobilities, with a quota exceeding 50% reserved for young people with fewer opportunities or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• At least 6 complete itineraries of sustainable tourism co-designed, field-tested, and included in local tourism catalogs.
• An overall satisfaction rate exceeding 75% from students, teachers, and private tourism operators.

The results of RARE ROUTES remain an active asset for IIS Mosè Bianchi today: the responsible travel methodologies and digital tools developed continue to be steadily integrated into the educational offerings of our technical and vocational programs.