SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION AMBASSADORS A Youth-Led Learning Pathway for Slow, Sustainable and Inclusive Coastal Futures

Sustainable Destination Ambassadors is a transnational non-formal learning pathway that equips young people to understand their territory as a living ecosystem and to contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and community-led visitor economies. The project connects three different coastal contexts — Sardinia, Greece and Lisbon — through local learning, a transnational learning mobility in Sardinia, youth-led micro-actions and an open Toolkit for reuse.
1. Vision and rationale
Across Europe, coastal and island territories are places of culture, livelihoods, environmental value and connection. They are also affected by seasonal visitor pressure, climate impacts, changing neighbourhood identities, unequal access to public space and insufficient opportunities for young people to participate in discussions about the future of the places where they live.
Sustainable Destination Ambassadors responds to this gap. It does not teach young people to market destinations or to become tourism professionals. It uses non-formal learning, territorial exploration, dialogue and practical co-design to support young residents in becoming informed, confident and active contributors to local futures.
The project is the first Youth-level pathway within Coolvoyage Destinations’ wider Slow & Sustainable Destination Development Framework. The future Framework will include the more advanced professional profile of the Destination Development Specialist. This project creates an earlier, youth-centred layer: Ambassadors learn to understand, listen, connect, communicate responsibly and activate small community-oriented actions.
2. Who is a Sustainable Destination Ambassador?
A Sustainable Destination Ambassador is a young person who develops the awareness, skills and confidence to contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and community-led destinations. Ambassadors do not promote tourism as a product. They learn to understand their territory as a living ecosystem, listen to local voices, recognise environmental and social challenges, communicate places responsibly and co-design small actions that create value for local communities and visitors.
3. Objectives
No.
Objective
Evidence
O1
Equip 30 young people with foundational competences in sustainable, inclusive and community-led destination development.
Learning pathway, Youthpass/recognition process, participant self-assessment and reflection
O2
Enable young people to investigate and discuss local environmental, social, cultural and accessibility-related challenges in three coastal contexts.
Three Youth Territorial Snapshots, listening records and stakeholder maps
O3
Create genuine European peer learning through a shared transnational mobility in Sardinia and reciprocal review of local ideas.
36-person mobility, mixed-country groups, peer-review record and Ambassador Charter
O4
Support young people to co-design and test one feasible local micro-action in each territory.
Three documented micro-actions and local stakeholder feedback
O5
Develop a reusable Youth Toolkit that supports youth workers, educators and local organisations to repeat the pathway.
Open Toolkit, facilitator resources, case studies and transfer webinar
Participants will normally be aged 18–30. The final selection criteria will be agreed by the partnership and will prioritise motivation, diversity of background, potential to contribute locally and willingness to take part in the full pathway. Each partner will provide transparent recruitment, accessible information, preparation, safeguarding, practical support and follow-up.
We will intentionally seek to include young people with fewer opportunities, including participants affected by geographical isolation, economic barriers, limited access to international learning, social or educational barriers, disability or other access needs. Inclusion will not be treated as a quota: it will shape outreach, venue choice, travel planning, materials, facilitation and support.