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HITTS EUROPEAN PROJECT
Heritage Innovation, Territory, Tourism and Sustainability
The HITTS Project is an initiative approved under the Interreg SUDOE programmeco-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Its aim is to revitalising the cultural and natural heritage of rural areas in south-west Europefacing challenges such as depopulation, demographic ageing and territorial degradation. This project is committed to sustainable tourism as a key tool to revitalise these areas, promoting innovation and public-private collaboration.
A Transnational Cooperation Partnership
The beneficiaries of the HITTS Project include key institutions in Spain, Portugal and France. We at The Open Faculty University Centre contribute with our management team and expert faculty in tourism, territory and heritage, to develop pilots to validate a common and sustainable methodology.
Innovation and Sustainability for the future of the SUDOE territories
The HITTS Project aims to provide solutions to common problems in the SUDOE regionsThese include combating rural depopulation, fostering the appreciation of cultural and natural heritage, and promoting sustainable and ecological tourism, among others.
Our mission is to developing innovative and collaborative methodologies to boost economic and social growth in rural areas, highlighting their cultural and natural wealth.
One of our expert teachers involved, Herminio Picazo, tells us a bit more about this European HITTS Project.
Together towards a more sustainable future, transforming rural areas in south-west Europe
The Open Faculty Commitment
Active contribution to the project with our expertise in tourism and heritage, promoting sustainable development.
Innovative and sustainable solution
HITTS tackles the challenges of Southwest Europe with an approach combining innovation and sustainability
Promoting transnational cooperation
The project promotes collaboration between different entities to improve land and heritage management.
Valorisation of local heritage
This project seeks to protect and enhance the cultural and natural heritage of the participating rural areas.
Boosting rural employment
The initiative envisages generating job opportunities in areas in need of economic revitalisation.
Stopping depopulation
With its social and economic impact, the project aims to mitigate the exodus of inhabitants in the beneficiary rural areas.
Technology and culture, tools for territorial development
Our University Centre The Open Faculty is playing an essential role in the development of the HITTS project, leading the use of technological tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the development of Digital Twins. As Carlos Pineda, Vice-Dean of Students of our Faculty, pointed out:
"We are creating a new sustainable tourism model with a double vision: heritage management and dissemination of the tourist resource".
Presentation of the HITTS Project in the Murcia Region
Last Tuesday, 24 September, the official presentation of the European Project HITTS in the Museum of the City of Murcia. This event was attended by local authorities, representatives of the City Council of Murcia, and members of our University Centre, The Open Faculty, as well as invited guests. During the event, the main objectives of the HITTS Project were presented, focused on the tourism revitalisation of rural areas through innovation and sustainability of cultural heritage.
The event also allowed the attendees to learn more about the expected impact of the project in the Region of Murcia and other participating areas, as well as the actions that will be carried out in the coming months to promote more environmentally friendly tourism.
Discover how the Hitts Project connects innovation and heritage
Our lecturer and Vice-Dean of Students, Carlos Pineda, travelled to Úbeda to lead one of the activities of the Hitts Project where he shows us what is a Digital Twin.
We continue to work to connecting heritage, innovation and responsible tourism at every turn.
LATEST NEWS
Training for future local trainers
Our teachers Rosa Marcela y Carlos Pineda travelled to Álava to provide a innovative training methodology territorially oriented Sudoe. This initiative boosts learning in key areas such as the sustainable developmentthe new technologies applied to tourismthe natural and cultural heritage and the digital marketing.
A total of 35 international experts participated in this training experience, which reinforced the cooperation between Spain, Portugal and France and promotes a educational model based on tourism innovation and sustainability.
We present the Heritage Diagnosis of the SUDOE Territory
The diagnosis in which the faculty has participated in the HITTS project together with its seven partner territories (Spain, Portugal and France) has focused on the great opportunities and strengths of the region:
- Exceptional Heritage: The territories have a rich and valuable heritage, both natural and cultural, which makes them unique and highly attractive destinations.
- Strong Local Involvement: It highlights the active participation and engagement of the community and local stakeholders, a fundamental pillar for the development of any successful strategy.
These two positive points are the solid basis for moving forward. The analysis is a key step towards building a common strategy for a responsible, inclusive and sustainable tourism model in the SUDOE region, making the most of these valuable resources.
HITTS Project shows how Heritage transforms Rural Tourism
The European project HITTS (Heritage, Innovation, Territory, Territory, Tourism & Sustainability) has launched the Map and Good Practice Guide of the SUDOE area, The European Commission's "Rural Development Strategy", a key tool for revitalising rural regions.
The design and development The mapping has been carried out by our Faculty, applying technologies used in both the Degree in Tourism and the Degree in International Relations.
This initiative, coordinated by the Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (Portugal), has identified 15 exemplary experiences from Spain, France and Portugal. These initiatives demonstrate in a practical way how the cultural and natural heritage can act as a powerful a driver of innovation, sustainability and territorial cohesion in south-west Europe.
The results are a fundamental contribution to the HITTS objective of strengthening the transnational cooperation. Developers seek a more sustainable model of tourism. sustainable, inclusive and quality.
Both the interactive map and the multilingual guide (in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) are openly available.
“A common history of the SUDOE territory”, a new milestone to reinforce the cultural and touristic identity of the region.
The project has just submitted an essential document: “A common history of the SUDOE territory”.”.
This is not just a text; it is an account that, for the first time, unifies the rich cultural identity, landscapes and living heritage of Southwest Europe. Based on extensive fieldwork, testimonies and local memories, the «Common History» goes beyond administrative boundaries to highlight the deep links to water, agricultural traditions and a shared way of rural life.
The objective is ambitious and totally in line with your sensibilities: to build a sustainable, sensitive and coherent tourism that benefits local communities. This strategic tool seeks to position the SUDOE internationally, to promote new tourism products based on intangible heritage, and to encourage a participatory governance where the rural voice is central.
Facing challenges such as climate change adaptation and social cohesion, this story is emerging as a key instrument for understanding and transforming the future of tourism in the SUDOE.
Guide to the adaptive use of heritage in the SUDOE area
The guide applies the principles of New European Bauhaus (sustainability, inclusiveness and beauty) to provide a robust methodology of adaptive reuse. The aim? To breathe new life into rural buildings and landscapes, transforming them into drivers of economic and social impact.
The creation process was fully collaborative, gathering real experiences through a questionnaire shared among partners, ensuring its applicability to the diverse reality of the SUDOE.
Available in several languages, this tool is not just an academic document; it is a intervention model ready to be applied. It is integrated into the training online of HITTS and is central to the Rural Development Strategy in Spain, Portugal and France. It is a must-read for those seeking to innovate in heritage conservation and sustainable socio-economic development.
