Kick-off project RISTOR: Fostering Rural Innovation and Inclusive Tourism in the Greece-Albania Cross-Border Area

On 9 December 2025, the Municipal Council Hall of Zagori in Aspraggeloi hosted the official kick-off meeting of the project RISTOR (Rural Innovation centers for Sustainable and inclusive TOuRism). Funded by the Interreg IPA Greece – Albania programme, this initiative aims to revitalise the cross-border region by introducing sustainable innovation structures to rural tourism.

Strategic Alignment and Objectives

The meeting brought together partners from Greece and Albania to finalise the roadmap for the project’s ambitious goals. RISTOR addresses a critical priority of the Interreg programme: enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the cross-border area. The project goes beyond traditional tourism promotion by establishing Rural Innovation Centers in Zagori and Korçë. These centers will function as multi-purpose hubs designed to support local entrepreneurship, culture and community interaction.

Suggested for the New European Bauhaus

A defining characteristic of RISTOR is its comprehensive alignment with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. By adhering to the core NEB principles —Beautiful, Sustainable, and Together— RISTOR seeks to demonstrate how rural development can bridge the gap between heritage preservation and modern inclusivity.

The project places a strong emphasis on renovating public spaces to be environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. Specifically, RISTOR includes specialised studies to ensure tourism infrastructure is accessible to persons with disabilities and families, fostering a truly inclusive visitor experience. Due to this holistic approach, the project has been suggested for inclusion in the New European Bauhaus Compendium as a best practice example for rural areas.

Meeting Highlights

During the kick-off, the partnership established the management and steering committees and agreed on immediate next steps. Key actions for the upcoming period include:

• Launch of tender procedures for the renovation of the selected public buildings.
• Initiation of studies regarding accessibility and family-friendly tourism standards.
• Coordination of cross-border activities to ensure knowledge transfer between the two regions.

The Partnership

The project is implemented by a cross-border partnership committed to regional cohesion:

• Municipality of Zagori (Lead Partner)
• Municipality of Korçë
• Research Organization for the Commons and Peer to Peer Practices (P2P Lab)
• Observatory for Children and Youth Rights
• Impact Hub Labs NGO