picture: Ries Bosch on Unsplash
New Entrepreneur (NE):
Name & surname: Justin Meurer
Country: Germany
Age: 28
Sector of activity: Consulting & Tourism
Did you already start your business? No
What is your future business? Consulting business for sustainable tourism industry
Host Entrepreneur (HE):
Name & surname: Carlos Picanço
Country: Portugal
Sector of activity: Sustainable Tourism
Name of business/website: www.futurismo.pt
What is your business? Futurismo is deeply committed to integrating sustainable practices and conservation efforts into our eco-tourism operations, sales and marketing, leveraging our extensive experience and leading position in the Azores’ tourism sector.
Period of exchange: 01/10/2023 – 31/01/2024
Duration of exchange: 4 months
My journey with the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme was a transformative experience that reshaped my understanding and approach to sustainable tourism and regeneration. I, Justin Meurer, am an aspiring entrepreneur with a grand passion for sustainability, and I was fortunate to be mentored by Carlos Picanço, a visionary in sustainability and transformative experiences in tourism, and the driving force behind the Sustainability and Marketing department at Futurismo Azores Adventures in the Azores, Portugal.
My goal was to immerse myself in the intricacies of sustainable tourism and emerge with an actionable strategy for my future business – a sustainable/regenerative tourism consultancy, working with (emerging) destinations and businesses globally to improve their sustainability approaches. The exchange was more than just a learning opportunity as it was a chance to witness and contribute to real-world sustainability practices in one of the most beautiful yet delicate ecosystems in the world – the Azores.
There were some challenges, from bridging my initial experience gap in practical sustainable tourism, to adapting to a new cultural and environmental setting. However, under Carlos’s guidance, I engaged in various projects, gaining invaluable insights into sustainable practices. The highlights were the comprehensive materiality assessment I developed for the company, “Guardians of the Azores,” a citizen science initiative, and the stakeholder collaboration initiative to collectively work on better tourism in the Azores.
Living in the Azores was an education in itself as there is a contrast between the island’s natural beauty and the environmental challenges it faces, which was eye-opening. My conviction was further strengthened that sustainable tourism isn’t just about conserving nature but also about empowering and engaging the community in these efforts.
The exchange exceeded my expectations because I also gained a deeper appreciation for the role of community in sustainability and learned valuable skills in project management, strategy development, and cooperation. As I reflect on my time with Futurismo, I am filled with gratitude for the knowledge and experiences shared with me by the whole team. My next steps are now clear: to use these learnings as a foundation for my future business in sustainable tourism. I wholeheartedly recommend the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme to anyone looking to make a difference through entrepreneurship – a mentorship experience like this is an invaluable opportunity!
I plan to stay in touch with Carlos and the whole team and use the insights from this experience as a cornerstone for my future business – I’m sure there will be opportunities for future collaborations as well! It’s not just a professional connection but a shared vision for a better future in tourism, in which my own journey has just begun.
Concluding Remarks:
Justin Meurer (NE): “The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme was a pivotal experience in my journey towards sustainable tourism entrepreneurship, as, under the mentorship of Carlos Picanço at Futurismo Azores Adventures, I was able to hone my skills in sustainable strategy and project management as well as gaining a profound understanding of the delicate balance between tourism and its diverse impacts on communities, the environment, and animals. The EYE programme isn’t just about professional growth – for me it was about becoming part of a larger movement towards a sustainable future, and I would wholeheartedly encourage every aspiring entrepreneur to seize this opportunity! The insights, networks, and experiences you gain are invaluable and will undoubtedly shape your entrepreneurial path.”
Carlos Picanço (HE): “The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme was a rewarding experience, both for me and my team at Futurismo Azores Adventures due to Justin’s fresh perspectives and commitment to sustainability, bringing new insights to our work. His enthusiasm and doer-thinking helped in advancing our initiatives and reminded us of the importance of embracing new ideas in an established and successful business. He helped advance many initiatives that we didn’t have the time and capacity to tackle before. Having learned as much from Justin as he did from me and us, this collaboration highlighted the value of mentorship and the exchange of knowledge, which has proven to me that continuous learning is vital at any stage of entrepreneurship.
I highly recommend this programme to other entrepreneurs and companies as it offers a unique opportunity to mentor emerging talents and also enriches your own business practices. I am very much open to repeating this experience.
Overall, my experience with the programme has been incredibly positive and it reinforces the importance of fostering international collaborations for sustainable business growth. Our time with Justin was not just about mentorship, but rather a partnership that spurred both personal and professional development. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and I’m sure there will be further opportunities for collaboration between us!”