CIVIS Creathon 2025: when students rethink tourism

Held from 11 to 12 June 2025 at Sapienza Università di Roma, the Creathon student-led project transformed overtourism from an abstract policy dilemma into a shared European concern, one rooted in local realities and human experience. Over two intense days, CIVIS students unpacked the impact of tourism in communities, questioned its assumptions, and reimagined it through the lenses of inclusivity, sustainability, and social justice.

A space where students lead

Organised by the CIVIS Student Council, the Creathon was never meant to be a traditional competition. Instead, it became a space where students could lead—intellectually, creatively, and collectively.

“Building better cities starts with students creating change together,” reflected Ana-Maria Beciu, capturing the spirit that guided the event from its opening moments.

Teams of three to eight students, drawn from across the CIVIS Alliance, worked in cross-border and cross-disciplinary groups. Engineers collaborated with social scientists, communication students exchanged ideas with urban thinkers. Workshops blended research, brainstorming, and hands-on problem-solving, while debate and listening were treated as equally valuable tools.

Students are the driving force of change—the key to a sustainable future

Overtourism through local eyes

Rome was not just the host city, it was the case study. Its crowded streets, fragile ecosystems, and vibrant neighborhoods provided a powerful backdrop for examining how tourism affects everyday life. Students approached overtourism not as a numbers problem, but as a question of balance—between visitors and residents, growth and care.

Some proposals focused on accessibility and redistribution:

“The future of tourism lies in creating accessible ‘mirror destinations’ for all,” said Marlena Casajuana, envisioning alternatives that relieve pressure from overburdened cities while opening new opportunities elsewhere.

Others reframed the issue from the perspective of urban wellbeing. “Tackling overtourism starts with creating stress-free cities for locals,” argued Pablo Parás Ochoa, shifting attention back to those who live and work in popular destinations year-round.

Technology also emerged as a recurring theme—not as a silver bullet, but as a carefully considered tool. “New technologies are the key to solving Europe’s overtourism challenge,” explained Cansu Demir, pointing to data-driven solutions that remain anchored in ethical governance.

Throughout the discussions, one idea returned again and again: the need to think beyond disciplinary borders.

Shaping a sustainable Europe starts with young people daring to think beyond their fields

More than an award

The Creathon concluded with an award ceremony honoring the most outstanding proposal. Yet the organisers were clear: the real success of the event lay not in winning, but in the process itself. Participants left with sharpened problem-solving skills, new international connections, and a deeper understanding of how complex societal challenges can be approached collaboratively.

By creating a platform where students were trusted to lead, the CIVIS Student Council reaffirmed its commitment to meaningful student engagement and to strengthening the European university community from within.

In a city shaped by millions of visitors, the CIVIS Creathon offered something different—a reminder that the future of tourism, and of Europe itself, is already being imagined by young minds willing to listen, collaborate, and create together.

Video credits:
Credits Concept: María Isabel Soldevila Brea
Interviews and Script: Marianna Kontolatou
Camera crew: OverPress Media Post-production: L'arbre à films
Special Thanks to: The CIVIS Student Council
To our hosts at Sapienza Università di Roma
A product of the CIVIS Communication Unit