PRIORITY 3 - An economically and socially sustainable Greece-Albania cross-border regionRISTOR brings together five partners from Greece and Albania, namely Municipality of Zagori, Municipality of Korca, Observatory for Children and Youth Rights, P2P Lab and Impact Hub Labs to address shared challenges in East Zagori (GR) and Korce (AL), regions rich in culture and nature yet underdeveloped compared to their neighbouring destinations. By revitalising two disused municipal buildings in Demati and Dardha, the project will create two accessible Rural Innovation Centers for Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism. Each center will be restored with respect for local architecture and traditional building methods.
Upon launch, the centers will act as collaborative, cross-border spaces where local communities, tourism professionals and visitors can meet, build skills, share knowledge and shape the future of sustainable tourism in their regions —using updated resources and business methods while respecting local practices and the environment.
During the two-year programme implementation, the centres will host training programmes, incubation services and networking activities tailored to local needs. Long-term, sustainable programming will promote diverse, inclusive forms of tourism—cultural, rural, agricultural, adventure and family-friendly—and actively engage youth, women, families, creatives and small-scale producers as beneficiaries and co-creators.
RISTOR will also create a digital community of professionals in Greece and Albania, maintaining active presence on social media to promote opportunities and foster open cross-border dialogue. By integrating social innovation into public infrastructure, the Interreg RISTOR project builds a cross-border cultural and environmental continuum, by repositioning these villages as year-round destinations rooted in cultural identity, sustainability and accessibility. Over 100 local professionals will be trained, 30+ new offerings developed and 2.500+ visitors engaged annually.