ViaVia Tourism Academy

What ViaVia Tourism Academy does

ViaVia Tourism Academy vzw (VVTA) is a Belgian non-profit organisation founded in 2001 and headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium, operating with 1-10 employees as the education and training arm of the broader Joker/ViaVia network. VVTA delivers consulting, training, coaching, and learning-network services focused on sustainable and regenerative tourism, intercultural entrepreneurship, and social inclusion in the tourism sector. Its core service offerings are organised into three pillars: Concept Development (converting field experience into hands-on concepts), Training & Coaching (building professional competence in tourism), and Learning Networks (facilitating collaboration through the global Joker/ViaVia network).

VVTA's portfolio combines these core services with a stream of project-based programmes, including vocational tourism curricula (R.I.S.T.o.VET, SMILES Management), academic partnerships (the STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master with KU Leuven, Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, and four other universities), social business models (Sundry Seeds hubs in Belgium, Bulgaria, and Honduras), social inclusion initiatives (Café Herman), EU awareness campaigns (Women with Impact), and humanitarian efforts (ViaVia Marrakech Helps following the 2023 Morocco earthquake). Multiple programmes are funded through Erasmus+, ESF, and other EU instruments; only some activities are direct fee-based consulting.

VVTA's go-to-market is relationally driven, leveraging the 4-continent Joker/ViaVia ecosystem for referrals, organising congresses and learning network study days, and securing co-funded EU project partnerships. The organisation does not publish pricing; engagements are scoped and quoted individually. VVTA has received the VBO-VEV Prize for International Partnership for Sustainable Development (2000), ESF Ambassador status (2015), and contributed to Joker's SDG Voice recognition (2018).

Name

ViaVia Tourism Academy

Legal name

ViaVia Tourism Academy vzw

Website

https://viaviatourismacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ViaVia Tourism Academy vzw is a Belgian non-profit founded in 2001 that delivers consulting, training, and learning-network services in sustainable and regenerative tourism to governments, educational institutions, and tourism entrepreneurs across four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Education and Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training) (THAAANAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable tourism training
• Regenerative tourism education
• Tourism consultancy services
• Intercultural entrepreneurship training
• Vocational tourism programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mechelen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consulting and advisory engagements: VVTA provides bespoke consulting services to governments, cities, and organisations on sustainable tourism development, destination management, and regenerative tourism transitions. Projects are scoped and priced individually.
2. Training, coaching and education programmes: VVTA delivers interactive training courses, workshops, coaching, and educational programmes to tourism entrepreneurs, educators, and institutional clients. Services are offered as short- or long-term collaborations, in Belgium or abroad, tailored to the client organisation.
3. Erasmus+ and EU project funding: A significant portion of VVTA's activities are funded through European Union programmes including Erasmus+, ESF (Europees Sociaal Fonds), and Frame Voice Report. These grants support project delivery rather than representing direct customer revenue.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ViaVia Tourism Academy vzw delivers bespoke consulting, training, and learning network services focused on sustainable and regenerative tourism. Its core service pillars are Concept Development (converting field knowledge into hands-on sustainable development concepts), Training & Coaching (building professional competence in tourism), and Learning Networks (facilitating cross-border collaboration through the worldwide Joker/ViaVia network). Deliverables are tailored to governments, educational institutions, and tourism entrepreneurs, primarily in Belgium and internationally.

Product overview

ViaVia Tourism Academy is an education and training organization specializing in sustainable and regenerative tourism. Its portfolio consists of three core service pillars (Concept Development, Training & Coaching, and Learning Networks) complemented by numerous project-based programs. The core services provide the foundational framework for capacity building, while the projects demonstrate practical applications including vocational training programs (R.I.S.T.o.VET, STeDe), entrepreneurship training (SMILES Management, Grensverleggend Ondernemen), social business models (Sundry Seeds), academic partnerships (Sustainable Territorial Development), social inclusion initiatives (Café Herman), awareness campaigns (Women with Impact), and regional development projects (Regenerative Journey, Regenerative and Climate-adaptive Tourism, Entrepreneurship for Regenerative Destinations). The Joker ViaVia Impactfonds provides funding support for these initiatives. All offerings are delivered through the organization's global network presence spanning four continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 150 students graduated from the STeDe master programme and are professionally active
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European partners (Italy, Poland, Greece, Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019VVTA was a project partner in the Erasmus+ R.I.S.T.o.VET – Rural Innovative Sustainable Tourism for VET project (2019-2022), together with partners from Italy, Poland, Greece, and Germany. The project developed professional knowledge about local sustainable tourism for European VET institutions.
• CIM – Creativity and Innovation Management (European knowledge alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019VVTA became part of CIM, a European knowledge alliance for creativity and innovation competencies, validated in higher education and businesses. This is an Erasmus+ project coordinated by the University of Duisburg-Essen with partners from Lithuania, Portugal, Austria, Italy, Ireland, England, and Belgium.
• Karamoja Tourism Academy (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018VVTA formed a learning network with Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours and the Karamoja Tourism Academy in Uganda. VVTA visited in autumn 2018 to support the launch of the Karamoja Tourism Academy and conducted a five-day workshop with entrepreneurs in 2022.
• Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours is a local sustainable tour operator in Karamoja, Uganda. VVTA and Kara-Tunga formed a learning network to share knowledge, with VVTA supporting the startup of the Karamoja Tourism Academy.
• Tourythm (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourythm from Germany is a key partner in the Regenerative Journey Erasmus+ project (2024-2026), working with VVTA and Travapowa to explore how regeneration takes shape in tourism across Europe.
• Travapowa (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravapowa from France partners with VVTA and Tourythm in the Regenerative Journey project to bring together stories, people, and initiatives around regenerative tourism in European tourism.
• Mood of Finland (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMood of Finland is a partner in the Erasmus+ project 'Regenerative & Climate-Adaptive Tourism' alongside VVTA and IWORU (Spain). The partnership explores regenerative tourism in Loppi, Finland.
• IWORU (Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWORU is a partner in the Erasmus+ project 'Regenerative & Climate-Adaptive Tourism' alongside VVTA and Mood of Finland, focusing on regenerative tourism in Asturië, Spain.
• Slow Travellers RomaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlow Travellers Romania is a partner in the Erasmus+ project 'Entrepreneurship for Regenerative Destinations', hosting an intensive practice week in Romania.
• Tourythm (Germany) — second projectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourythm is also a partner in the 'Entrepreneurship for Regenerative Destinations' Erasmus+ project, contributing to online preparation, community building, and learning activities.
• KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVTA is a professional partner in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme STeDe (Sustainable Territorial Development), serving as a guest lecturer for the course 'Tourism, Globalisation & Sustainable Development' and offering internships and thesis research opportunities within the Joker/ViaVia network.
• Paris 1 Panthéon SorbonnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVTA serves as a guest lecturer at Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne for the STeDe programme course 'Stratégies Territoriales Durables', contributing practical field experience to the academic curriculum.
• STeDe consortium (6 universities + 3 professional partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe STeDe Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme involves six universities: Università di Padova (Italy), KU Leuven (Belgium), Sorbonne Paris (France), Dom Bosco Brazil, University of Johannesburg (South Africa), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Burkina Faso), and three professional partners: SEBRAE (Brazil), ALDA (France), and ViaVia Tourism Academy (Belgium).
• JokercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoker is the parent network of ViaVia Tourism Academy. Founded 1981, Joker is a Belgian travel organisation and initiator of the Joker ViaVia Impact Fund. VVTA operates within the Joker/ViaVia network and draws on its global presence for learning networks and project delivery.
• KaravaanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaravaan (founded 1971) is a Belgian walking and outdoor travel organisation within the Joker/ViaVia network, offering intercultural walking tours. VVTA and Karavaan share the sustainable and regenerative tourism mission.
• ViaVia World (ViaVia Travellers Cafés)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerViaVia World is a global community of independent and sustainable hospitality entrepreneurs operating ViaVia Travellers Cafés in over 50 locations worldwide since 1995. VVTA draws on this network for field experience and learning exchanges.
• Anders ReizenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnders Reizen (founded 2001) is a Belgian sustainable travel organisation within the Joker/ViaVia network. VVTA collaborates with Anders Reizen on projects such as Morocco earthquake relief and regenerative tourism initiatives.
• VDAB (Flemish Public Employment Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDAB is a partner in the ESF-funded Sundry Seeds project, contributing to the development of the social business model for youth, women, and newcomers in urban hospitality entrepreneurship.
• Stad Mechelen (City of Mechelen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Mechelen is a partner in supporting Sundry Seeds hubs within the city, contributing to local entrepreneurship support for youth, women, and newcomers.
• Maakleerplek LeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaakleerplek Leuven operates a Sundry Seeds hub in Leuven, supported through the VVTA-coordinated social business model.
• Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihood Association (MBLA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBLA is a Moroccan NGO working in the Atlas Mountains since 2014, partnering with ViaVia on the earthquake relief and reconstruction programme, helping coordinate community-driven recovery in education, tourism, and agriculture.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Travelife: Travelife provides sustainability training and certification programmes for hotels, tour operators, and travel agencies worldwide. Directly comparable to VVTA as both deliver sustainability capacity-building services to tourism businesses, though Travelife focuses more on certification standards while VVTA emphasises training and consulting.
• The Long Run: The Long Run is a global membership organisation of nature-based tourism destinations committed to conservation and sustainable operations, offering training, peer learning, and certification. Comparable to VVTA through its network-driven sustainable tourism capacity-building model and shared regenerative framing.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): GSTC establishes and manages global sustainable tourism standards and runs training, certification, and accreditation programmes for destinations and industry. Comparable to VVTA in mission and audience (tourism sustainability capacity building) but operates at a global standards level rather than a regional field-delivery model.
• Tourism Cares: Tourism Cares is a non-profit that supports social impact and community-based tourism through grants, education, and volunteer programmes. Comparable to VVTA in non-profit structure, mission-driven model, and combination of training with capacity-building for tourism enterprises and communities.
• Green Destinations: Green Destinations is a foundation that supports sustainable destination management through certification, training, and a global network of destination representatives. Directly comparable to VVTA in destination-focused sustainable tourism capacity building and network-driven operating model.
• EplerWood International: EplerWood provides consulting, research, and training for sustainable tourism and natural resource management globally. Directly comparable to VVTA as both operate as boutique consultancies serving destinations and development institutions on sustainable tourism strategy and capacity building.
• EarthCheck: EarthCheck is a sustainability certification and training programme for the travel and tourism industry, offering benchmarking, advisory, and capacity building. Comparable to VVTA as both deliver sustainability training and advisory services to tourism operators, though EarthCheck leans more on certification/benchmarking IP.

Broad incumbents

• UN Tourism (UNWTO): UN Tourism is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, running capacity-building, training, and policy programmes globally. Comparable to VVTA through shared sustainable tourism training and policy advisory mission, though operating at vastly larger scale and intergovernmental level.
• B Lab Global (B Corporation): B Lab administers the B Corp certification and runs education, training, and community programmes for sustainable business globally. Comparable to VVTA through its training and education programmes for sustainable businesses, though covering all sectors rather than specialising in tourism.
• Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA): ATTA is a global trade association supporting the adventure travel industry through events, training, research, and sustainability initiatives. Comparable to VVTA through its sustainable tourism training and community/networking activities, though it operates at a broader industry-association level rather than a focused training/consulting niche.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ViaViaTourismAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/viavia-tourism-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ViaVia Tourism Academy