Inovacijų akademija, together with international partners, is launching the LISTEN project (Circularity in Sport Tourism – the Right Path to Destination)—an initiative aimed at strengthening sustainability, circular economy solutions, and social inclusion in the sport tourism sector.
Sport tourism is a rapidly growing sector that contributes to local economic development, community engagement, and the promotion of an active lifestyle. However, its development is still often based on a linear resource-use model, which does not sufficiently align with the European Union’s objectives on climate neutrality, the circular economy, and social inclusion. Despite the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, sport tourism remains insufficiently integrated into EU sustainability policy frameworks.
Most local and regional sports clubs organising sport tourism activities—such as training sessions, camps, events, and competitions—lack structured guidelines on how to practically apply circular economy principles, including reducing waste, using resources more efficiently, managing mobility, or increasing the accessibility of activities for socially disadvantaged groups. There is a shortage not only of knowledge, but also of a coherent advisory system that would support the long-term implementation of these practices.
The LISTEN project seeks to address these challenges by developing a Circular Sport Tourism Advisory System (CSTAS). This system will provide a practically applicable set of guidelines and tools for sports clubs and tourism stakeholders, supporting more responsible planning of trips and events by reducing waste, encouraging conscious decision-making, and improving accessibility.
The project aims not only to reduce the environmental impact of sport tourism, but also to strengthen the role of sports organisations in developing inclusive, accessible, and community-based sport tourism models that align with the EU Work Plan for Sport (2024–2027) and the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme.
Project launch and next steps
Today, the project kick-off meeting took place, during which the partners:
- aligned on project management, communication, and overall coordination;
- agreed on a shared document space, partnership arrangements, and key administrative steps;
- identified the first content-related tasks.
In the next phase of the project, the main focus will be on WP2 – Context Analysis and Stakeholder Engagement, led by Inovacijų akademija. This phase will involve analysing the sport tourism landscape and sustainability practices in Lithuania and Latvia, identifying existing gaps, opportunities, and good practices across Europe. In addition, focus group discussions will be organised with sports clubs, federations, policymakers, and tourism sector stakeholders. The results of this work will form the basis for the further development and piloting of CSTAS.
More information about the LISTEN project can be found here: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/101243338
Disclaimer:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
