The project aims at providing all the stakeholders involved in tourism development in delicate coastal areas of MED with an Observatory and DSS that help: -to identify the assets on which policy maker should take steps to stimulate the growth of tourism -to identify the challenges that global changes pose to the development of these assets -to design innovative policies that render these areas competitive on the global tourism market, yet satisfying the sustainable tourism criteria.The core of the Observatory (and DSS) is an Database with a strong regional dimension that, rather than gather new statistical information, efficiently uses already existing data and generates intelligent and highly operational indicators of Competitiveness and Sustainability of tourism in the medium and long term. A model will be developed to extrapolate the tourism development potentials in the future taking into account the global changes, such as climate change and the shift of the economic barycenter to the South and the East, that afflict these potentials. Last but not least, also by implementing a limited number of strategies designed through the DSS in the countries that are involved in the project, a number of practical and easily generable guidelines for competitive and sustainable tourism development strategies for the MED area will be delivered. Expected Results: • DATABASE AND MAPS OF TOURISM POTENTIALCollection of information (Eurostat, ESPON, 2000-2010 NUTS 2 level) about anthropic, economic, environmental, institutional and social factors (i.e. assets), and about real GDP growth and tourism flows (i.e. outcomes). The series of maps produced describe the spatial distribution and the dynamics of assets and outcomes across the relevant Mediterranean territories. The basic philosophy was to do more with existing statistical information by combining them in an integrative and innovative manner.• ANALYSIS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL BASED ON MED DESTINATIONS Investing on tourism represents an opportunity for regional growth. Tourism potential is fully exploited when associated to adequate pre-existing economic infrastructures, since the presence of agglomeration economies associated to natural and anthropic territorial resources is recognized as a fundamental characteristic to stimulate growth. Territorial specificities are considered through the analysis of case studies in each partner country.• MEASUREMENT OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE COMPETITIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM TO GLOBAL CHANGESMeasurement through new indicators able to describe the emerging phenomena affecting Med-destinations: Education, Change of values and lifestyles, Changing work patterns, Population trends, Urbanization, Shift of economic barycenterto the South and East, Deregulation/liberalizationof international trade, Population migrations, ICT technologies usage,and Climate change. These fundamental changes will have a huge impact on the competitiveness and the sustainability of tourism destinations, and understanding them better will help the tourism industry and policy makers to enhance the potentials that regional capital offers them for tourism development even further, as well as toreduce the risksthat some of these changes pose for tourism development.• SMART PACKAGES OF TOURISM POLICIES BASED ON THE CONCRETE NEEDS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Possible operational answers useful to mobilize territorial assets supporting the TT industry. These responses are: contextualized specifically for the MED area, innovative, green and inclusive (EU2020 Strategy), identified on the basis of Socio-demographic trends, Economic trends, Political trends, Environment-Resources-Energy Trends, Changes in Technology, and shared with stakeholders. Part of the prototype of the DSS that helps policy makers and entrepreneurs involved in tourism development make inclusive and sound strategic decisions regarding destinations.