TREADS Project Prepares to Launch Digital Security Training for the Tourism Sector

15.11.2025Sparks

The Erasmus+ project TREADS – Tourism Resilience Education in Digital Security is entering a new and important phase. The consortium is now preparing one of the key early milestones: the development of the Training Plan for Training Unit 2: Digital Security in Tourism.

The TREADS initiative, which brings together partners from Spain, Italy, Greece, and Slovenia, is designed to help the tourism sector — especially SMEs and micro-SMEs — adapt to rapid digital transformation and strengthen their resilience to growing cyber risks. Tourism companies remain among the most vulnerable segments of the European economy, yet lack structured training opportunities that reflect today’s digital challenges and labour-market needs

From analysis to action

During the initial months, partners focused primarily on research, mapping best VET practices, and analysing the needs of learners and tourism professionals. This preparatory phase was crucial for ensuring that the forthcoming training reflects real risks and real skill gaps in tourism organisations.

Building on these analyses, partners are now finalizing a comprehensive training plan for the Digital Security module. This plan outlines the knowledge, competences, and skills learners should acquire to confidently navigate today’s digital landscape. It will also guide the creation of future learning materials, online modules, and practical exercises that will form part of the TREADS blended-learning offer.

What the new Training Unit will cover

The training unit Digital Security in Tourism addresses one of the project’s core priorities: raising awareness about the impact of cyber threats, unethical data practices, and digital misinformation on tourism companies and consumers. Among the planned learning outcomes are:

Knowledge areas

• Fundamentals of cybersecurity and Zero Trust Security

• Main threats in the tourism sector (phishing, ransomware, booking fraud)

• Applied technologies such as blockchain, predictive AI and digital-footprint indicators

• Regulations, protocols, and customer-data protection

• Incident-response processes and crisis communication

Competences

• Implementing security measures in reservations, payments, and other critical processes

• Detecting, analysing, and responding to cyberattacks in simulated tourism environments

• Designing cybersecurity plans tailored to hotels, agencies, and operators

• Building digital trust as part of the customer experience

• Integrating accessibility, ethics, and sustainability into digital services

Practical skills

• Identifying and reacting to phishing attempts

• Applying recovery protocols in cases of ransomware or data leaks

• Conducting web-security and digital-accessibility audits

• Creating prototypes of secure and inclusive digital experiences

• Presenting cybersecurity solutions using both technical and business arguments

These learning components align closely with the EU’s strategic goals under Europe’s Digital Decade, the Tourism Transition Pathway, and the Pact for Skills. They also support TREADS’ broader ambition of strengthening digital readiness and resilience across the tourism workforce

Next steps in the project

With the training plan in place, the consortium will next focus on:

• Developing training materials and exercises

• Creating the Moodle-based e-learning platform

• Preparing national adaptations to match local tourism contexts

• Testing the content with tourism professionals and VET learners

Later stages will include dissemination activities, multiplier events, and an open educational platform allowing broader access to the project’s results.

A step forward for safer digital tourism

The completion of the training plan marks a significant step for TREADS. As tourism businesses continue to digitize their services, the need for skilled professionals who understand digital safety has never been greater. Through its structured VET approach, TREADS aims to provide exactly that: practical, future-oriented training that helps the sector become more secure, informed, and resilient.