As part of a research and development (R&D) initiative titled “Sustainable Sailing Tour: Developing Sustainable Tourist and Educational Sailing Products Using Digital Technologies” (2011-2013), co-funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, the Environmental Education Lab (EEL) has created original educational materials aimed at promoting lifelong environmental learning within the context of sailing tourism. This material serves as the basis for an interactive geoinformatics application developed by Talent Information Systems S.A., utilising Cruiser and Sail Applications created by Marine & Sailing Enterprises S.A.

The application enables users to navigate through two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cartographic representations throughout Greece. It features layered maps, composed of both vector and raster elements, which can be overlaid for detailed exploration. The application includes map administration tools for resizing, navigation, distance measurement, and on-point information retrieval. Users can explore map data organised into thematic categories and employ filters to easily select and display specific map elements of interest. Additionally, users can add content, including inserting, repositioning, or modifying points, creating object groups, and generating route lines, alongside the creation of "intelligent" collections.

The EEL has partnered with Talent Information Systems S.A. and Marine & Sailing Enterprises S.A. to develop five comprehensive sailing tours across the islands and coastal regions of Greece, tailored for adult audiences. Each tour is supported by a flexible learning framework designed to engage sailing tourists with various aspects of the local environment they visit. This framework aims to foster an understanding of the necessity and potential for sustainable tourism development in these areas, while also promoting awareness of individual responsibility in shaping a more sustainable tourism footprint.

The educational resources developed to complement each of these five sailing routes consist of two integral components:

1. Informational texts that cover each station along the route and other relevant points of interest within the broader area, particularly focusing on topics identified through route analysis.

2. Detailed suggestions for educational and recreational activities, offered as ideas for participants to enhance their experience during the journey, both at sea and at designated stations along each route.

The objective of this educational material is to encourage participants to draw connections between environmental, economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions of their surroundings. This begins with a fundamental understanding of key concepts related to sustainability—both in general and within the tourism context—as well as appreciating the significance of “industrial” and “architectural heritage”. Ultimately, it aims to facilitate the development of personal interpretations of the visited areas.