Region of Murcia Participates in the European SLOWDOWN Project
The SLOWDOWN project is a collaborative European effort funded through the Interreg Europe programme which seeks to work towards a tourism model centred on sustainability, local engagement, and deeper cultural experiences rather than speed and mass visitation. The initiative aims to help its participating regions adapt public policies and strategies to better support tourism that respects the environment, strengthens local economies, and enhances well-being for both visitors and residents.
A fantastic destination for travellers seeking sunshine, culture, and authentic Spanish charm without the crowds, the Region of Murcia is well known for its beautiful Mediterranean beaches and stunning natural parks for hiking and cycling. Boasting historic cities like Cartagena and Murcia, as well as fresh seafood, tapas, and local wines, the region offers the perfect setting for the SLOWDOWN project's vision of meaningful, low-impact travel.
Uniting nine partners from eight EU countries, the Region of Murcia plays an active and prominent role in SLOWDOWN, contributing to the project at multiple levels:
1. Policy and Strategic Engagement
Murcia is directly involved in shaping the regional policy instrument linked to the Programme Region of Murcia ERDF 2021-2027, which includes support for sustainable tourism development. Within this, slow tourism is seen as a strategic means to green the sector and spread tourism benefits more evenly across the territory.
2. Local Stakeholder Mobilisation
Murcia has organised regional stakeholder meetings focused on analysing the challenges and opportunities for slow tourism, particularly along routes like the Camino de Levante. These sessions have helped map barriers, identify local needs, and build common visions among government bodies, tourism professionals, and community actors.
3. Integration into Regional Tourism Tool
Murcia’s involvement goes beyond meetings and feeds directly into the development of a regional Slow Tourism Action Plan involving local authorities and municipal tourism stakeholders. Moreover, Murcia’s existing good practices — such as wine routes and sustainability quality programmes — have been identified as part of the SLOWDOWN project’s database of transferable solutions.
Altogether, the Region of Murcia is leveraging SLOWDOWN not only to enrich its own tourism policies with European insights but also to raise its profile on the EU stage, attract sustainable tourism flows throughout the year, and build stronger coordination between regional structures and local destinations.
For more information on Spain as a tourist destination, visit https://www.spain.info/en/
For all press enquiries contact Jessica Harvey Taylor on Jessica.harvey@tourspain.es or the Spanish Tourist Office’s PR agency LOTUS on spain@wearelotus.co.uk