Sustainable tourism in Interreg projects: a Comparative Document Analysis in the Adriatic-Ionian Area

Sustainable tourism is considered a topic of great relevance for the European Union and the Interreg initiative a fundamental tool for promoting sustainable development, particularly in peripheral and vulnerable regions like the Adriatic-Ionian area (ADRION). This dissertation undertakes a comparative analysis of how different cross-border programmes put in practise sustainability in tourism. The main research questions posed are: how have Interreg projects enhanced sustainable tourism practices, and what similarities and differences emerge across programmes? The study adopts a qualitative methodology, using purposive sampling to select 45 Interreg projects spanning the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods across the Italy-Croatia, Italy-Slovenia, and Greece-Italy cooperation areas. Data was collected from the projects’ Work Packages which were then analysed using a coding grid to spot differences and similarities. Findings reveal a shift toward more comprehensive strategies that integrate cultural heritage, social inclusion, and mobility, moving beyond single-output initiatives. The recent cycle demonstrates a noticeable improvement in monitoring, with projects integrating proactive evaluation systems and key performance indicators explicitly linked to long-term goals. Despite evident improvements, the programmes still struggle to communicate effectively their actions.