NextGEN Tourism is about supporting a strong and sustainable future for tourism. We focus on the people behind small and family-run businesses, helping them think ahead, adapt to change and feel confident about the next generation taking over. On this website, you will find clear information, practical ideas and learning resources created with tourism professionals, educators and advisors from across Europe. Together, we want to keep local businesses open, protect jobs and maintain the special character that makes each destination unique.
What is the need for the NextGEN Tourism project?
Across Europe, tourism depends heavily on small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family businesses. These companies are very important for jobs, local economies and cultural identity. However, many do not have a structured plan for what happens when the current owner retires or steps back. Research at European level shows that succession is often not prepared in time, and some family businesses close when ownership changes.
The Succession Readiness Competence Framework outlines the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective business handover in tourism. It addresses leadership transition, financial and legal planning, communication between generations and long-term business continuity. This framework forms the basis for the project’s learning materials and supports VET providers, advisors and SMEs in teaching succession in a structured way, helping businesses prepare earlier, plan realistically and transfer ownership with greater confidence.
The Modular Training Package provides a full collection of learning materials for VET programmes and direct SME use. It includes structured lessons, practical examples, succession scenarios and short activities that encourage discussion and reflection. Worksheets, templates and guidance support delivery, whether in the classroom, online or blended. The materials fit around business schedules and help educators introduce succession planning clearly and confidently, improving skills, awareness and long-term tourism business sustainability.
The Digital Tourism Succession Readiness Assessment Tool is an online system that helps SMEs understand how prepared they are for succession. Users answer guided questions and receive personalised feedback outlining strengths, gaps and next steps. The tool links directly to relevant training resources, making planning more practical and less overwhelming. It encourages early discussion, supports informed decision-making and helps owners, successors and advisors start succession planning with clarity, purpose and manageable actions.
The NextGEN Tourism Knowledge Hub is an online platform that gathers all project results in one accessible space. It hosts the full training package, the assessment tool, guidance materials, case examples and additional learning content. Designed for long-term use, the Hub remains openly available after the project, supporting continued training, implementation and knowledge exchange. It enables educators, advisors and SMEs to easily access resources and build succession readiness across tourism regions.
