RISTOR
RISTOR – Rural Innovation Centers for Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism
RISTOR (Rural Innovation Centers for Sustainable and Inclusive TOuRism) is a cross-border project implemented under the Interreg VI-A IPA III Cross-Border Cooperation Programme “Greece–Albania 2021–2027”, co-funded by the European Union.
The project aims to promote sustainable, inclusive and community-led tourism development in the Greece–Albania border region through the creation of two Rural Innovation Centers, located in Demati (Zagori, Greece) and Dardhë (Korçë, Albania). These Centers are established through the revitalisation of disused municipal buildings, applying energy-efficient, heritage-sensitive and accessible design principles, in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB): sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics.
The Rural Innovation Centers will function as permanent cross-border hubs for innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement, supporting local communities, tourism professionals, SMEs, entrepreneurs, youth and vulnerable groups. Throughout the project’s implementation, the Centers will host training programmes, incubation and mentoring services, networking and ecosystem-building activities, tailored to local needs and aimed at strengthening skills, innovation capacity and sustainable tourism practices.
RISTOR highlights the added value of cross-border cooperation, fostering knowledge exchange and joint solutions between Greek and Albanian partners, while promoting shared cultural and natural heritage, responsible tourism models and long-term regional resilience. The project contributes to strengthening local economies, enhancing social inclusion and supporting year-round tourism development in rural and mountainous areas.
Communication and dissemination activities ensure transparency, visibility and public awareness of project actions and results, clearly demonstrating the contribution of EU funding and the benefits of Interreg cooperation for local communities. All project activities comply with the EU and Programme visibility requirements, ensuring proper acknowledgment of European Union support.
Our Role
Within the Interreg VI-A IPA “Greece–Albania 2021–2027” RISTOR project, the Observatory for Children and Youth Rights contribute a strong social and inclusive dimension to the initiative.
The Observatory supports the integration of family-friendly and inclusive principles into the restoration and future operation of the Innovation Centre in Dardhë (Albania), ensuring that the space responds to the needs of families, children, women and local communities.
Through a conceptual and advisory contribution, the Observatory develops guiding criteria and strategic recommendations that promote accessibility, social inclusion, intergenerational engagement and community participation. In addition, PB4 participates in cross-border cooperation activities, workshops and knowledge exchange processes, reinforcing the project’s objective of sustainable and inclusive tourism development in both project areas.
Partnership
Greece:
Municipality of Zagori
P2P Lab
Impact Hub Athens
Albania:
Municipality of Korça
Observatory for Children and Youth Rights
Project Webpage: https://athens.impacthub.net/ristor/
Programme page: https://greece-albania.eu/project/ristor/
Contact us: interreg.ristor@gmail.com
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