The PortCREW project was approved for co-financing in March 2025 under the Interreg Euro-MED Programme 2021–2027, within Specific Objective 2.7: “Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.”
PortCREW is a 33-month project, implemented from April 2025 to December 2027, involving seven partners from five EU Member States: Italy, Slovenia, France, Spain and Greece.
The overall objective of the PortCREW project is to support the transition of cruise destinations towards more sustainable and environmentally responsible models, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal. By promoting emission reduction, biodiversity protection, efficient resource management, sustainable mobility and local socio-economic development, cruise ports are positioned as key actors in the implementation of the EU sustainability strategy.
PortCREW develops and tests innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the value of lesser-known natural and cultural inland destinations, repositioning them as attractive and sustainable alternatives for cruise tourism. The project focuses on the design, implementation and validation of new tools and approaches supporting the transition towards sustainable, responsible and smart tourism in real operational contexts.
In response to the growing demand for tailor-made and sustainable inland experiences, PortCREW partners will develop an eco-tourism platform to be piloted in five Mediterranean cruise ports located in Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia and Greece. The platform will provide cruise operators, port authorities and tourism stakeholders with new inland tourism packages, contributing to the mitigation of overtourism in coastal areas, the valorisation of underexplored natural and cultural assets, and the enhancement of social acceptance of cruise activities in Euro-Mediterranean urban areas.
Within the project framework, pilot and investment actions related to sustainable development will be implemented. At the Port of Koper, specific measures will be carried out to reduce congestion in the city centre and at the cruise terminal by redirecting cruise tourists towards the Koper hinterland. Supported by a dedicated study developed in cooperation with the Municipality of Koper, the Port of Koper will assess the feasibility of establishing three thematic cycling routes connecting the cruise terminal with inland destinations. As part of the pilot activity, smart benches will be installed in Koper along the identified routes, enabling the sustainable charging of electric bicycles and smart devices. These actions aim to relieve pressure on the urban centre while simultaneously promoting inland areas, offering environmentally conscious tourists high-quality, nature-based and sustainable experiences.
Project duration: 1 April 2025 – 30 September 2027
Total project budget: EUR 2,028,851.60
ERDF contribution (Interreg Euro-MED): EUR 1,623,081.28 (80%)
Budget allocated to Luka Koper, d.d.: EUR 277,500.00
ERDF contribution to Luka Koper: EUR 222,000.00
