The Black Sea CMA Annual Stakeholder Conference 2025 in Constanța, Romania, recognised several initiatives as examples of regional cooperation and innovation, dedicated to protecting the Black Sea’s ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities. Within these initiatives, the INTERSMARTS project “Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and Services for Blue Growth in the Black Sea Basin” was awarded both as a leading initiative and as the “Winner of the Winners” of the year. The INTERSMARTS project is a transnational initiative under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme. Its core mission is to enhance sustainability performance and foster innovation within tourism and related services through interdisciplinary research, networking, co-creation, and holistic knowledge generation across the Black Sea region.
The INTERSMART solution
The project seeks to deliver challenge-specific studies, comprehensive interdisciplinary interventions, and cross-border applied research. Its ultimate goal is to transform traditional perceptions and raise awareness of the knowledge-intensive nature of tourism within the blue economy development.
From challenges to action
INTERSMARTS addresses the pressing challenges posed by the rapid growth of the tourism industry along the Black Sea. While this sector is a major economic driver, its expansion has brought complex sustainability issues to the forefront. Despite growing awareness of sustainable travel and coastal management, reality shows persistent overbuilding, seasonal congestion, overcrowded public spaces, and conflicts between local communities and businesses. These trends reflect a short-term pursuit of profit at the expense of long-term resilience. The project responds to these challenges by delivering practical strategies for a transition to sustainable tourism and economic viability, while equipping professionals with the expertise to lead this transformation.
What makes INTERSMARTS unique
INTERSMARTS distinguishes itself through its combined expertise in research, business, and practical solutions tailored to the Black Sea region, a setting that demands local knowledge, creativity, and action. While promising examples of sustainable practices already exist in innovative companies and coastal communities, the challenge is to make these models more visible, accessible, and inspiring for broader adoption. To achieve this, INTERSMARTS prioritises:
Understanding the region-specific challenges facing the tourism sector.
Identifying and presenting effective solutions, including success factors and risks.
Bringing stakeholders together to reflect on their needs.
Showcasing best practices through digital transformation, introducing a digital and multilingual innovation management platform.
Partnerships and joint efforts to make it happen
The success of INTERSMARTS is driven by a diverse coalition of partners committed to advancing sustainable tourism in the Black Sea region. The initiative is built from the Research Department of Varna University of Management, with researchers from the International Hellenic University, Moldova State University, and the Istanbul Development Agency shaping the concept and securing support through the INTERREG NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme. Within INTERSMARTS, the network of stakeholders connects researchers and experts, IT developers, public authorities, entrepreneurs and SMEs, students, and educators.
Actions driving INTERSMARTS to reality
INTERSMARTS aims to position the Black Sea’s tourism sector within the blue economy, promoting a holistic view of how interconnected actions sustain coastal areas. It demonstrated that shared knowledge accelerates progress and broadens stakeholder perspectives beyond isolated green practices. It also highlighted tourism’s potential for technology adoption. Digital solutions are essential to reduce ecological impact and protect natural resources. Real-world examples proved highly motivating for students and entrepreneurs, reinforcing the need for technological transition to improve resource efficiency.
Moving forward to a sustainable, resilient Black Sea
INTERSMARTS aims to strengthen sustainability performance and accelerate innovation in tourism and related services through interdisciplinary research, networking, co-creation, and holistic knowledge development. This is achieved by creating a network for applied research, technology transfer, and the valorisation of smart, sustainable solutions. It directly supports Goal II of the CMA for the Black Sea: “A competitive, innovative and sustainable blue economy”, and aligns with Priority 1: fostering innovative business models, stimulating research and innovation, and promoting sustainable growth and modern job creation.
Next steps and replicability
Stakeholders are encouraged to visit the INTERSMART PLATFORM, register, and explore its resources. The platform enables users to share challenges, contribute ideas, highlight successful sustainable ventures from their regions, and exchange expertise across the Black Sea Basin. It will remain operational in the coming years, with plans to expand its technical features based on feedback from piloting and networking events, and offering opportunities for the related stakeholders, demonstrating that when technology, science, and community engagement converge, the Black Sea Basin can become more prosperous, resilient, and sustainable.