The current article presents the findings of a comparative evaluation of selected, already developed or developing cave tourism destinations in Greece, with the purpose of recognizing, highlighting, and disseminating good practices regarding the management and capitalization of caves. Cave tourism is a promising special form of tourism that attracts people with a variety of interests. This is because caves are both impressive sights and valuable sources of scientific knowledge, combining naturalistic, geological, archaeological, and environmental interest. Thus, show caves are valuable resources, potential tourist attractions, and axes of tourist development for their wider areas. The challenge of balancing the different needs entailed by conservation, on the one hand, and by exploitation, on the other, of an attraction of such ecological and cultural importance, dictates the need for research and exchange of knowledge, experience, and good practices. To locate and diffuse good practices, the method of benchmarking was selected. The design of the methodology according to benchmarking principles led to the selection of the destinations assessed, the definition of the evaluation criteria, and the way of gathering and comparing data. The research process highlighted specific features of the caves as determining factors for attractiveness and recognition, some of which are modifiable and can form suggestions for tourist capitalization. The interpretation of the findings results in policy recommendations for better management and successful promotion of cave destinations.

Although place branding in cross-border (c-b) areas is challenging, various c-b areas with common eco-natural and cultural characteristics are popular tourist brands in their own right. The emergence of c-b areas as destinations is not surprising since international borders are often natural formations, which may be popular tourist attractions. Due to historical and political circumstances, the Greek–Albanian c-b area has not experienced tourism development. It bears a weak image, and although individual destinations can be found in both border areas, they do not currently form a single place brand. Thus, place branding that aims to enhance the c-b area’s attractiveness should start with building a single identity by finding common competitive characteristics upon which it can be based. This paper analyzes part of the ‘Culture Plus’ project, which aims to identify significant common eco-natural and cultural resources in the Greek–Albanian c-b area. The resources were documented using local visits, interviews, and consultations. The most significant ones were comparatively evaluated to identify the vital common assets that can support place branding efforts, with encouraging results regarding the potential branding of the unique hidden identity of the c-b area.

Urban Quality of Life (UQoL) is a critical concept in urban studies, capturing the well-being of city residents through environmental, social, and economic conditions. This study refines the existing DPRD-50 system—originally developed to assess UQoL in Greek cities—by applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to the indicator dataset from its first application ten years ago. This process resulted in the DPRD-20 system, a more concise and flexible tool for comparative urban analysis. Beyond improving usability, the new system enables a longitudinal comparison of UQoL across time, revealing how selected Greek cities have evolved over the past decade. The findings highlight significant differences: cities like Ioannina, Volos, and Heraklion perform well due to strengths in healthcare, cultural amenities, or sustainable mobility. In contrast, cities like Kavala and Kalamata face infrastructure challenges despite strong environmental assets. The research underscores the importance of benchmarking as a means for cities to learn from each other, while supporting data-driven governance through an open-source monitoring framework with broader relevance to the European urban context.

This integrative literature review synthesises five strands of recent scholarships on port city regions (PCRs): (1) their multidimensional transitions, (2) skills foresight and future competences, (3) challenges and reforms in vocational education and training (VET) systems, (4) social inclusion and equity in skills development, and (5) innovative VET methodologies in port-adjacent sectors. Drawing on the interdisciplinary academic and policy-oriented literature, this article adopts a qualitative, integrative review approach to examine how the twin green and digital transition is reshaping port city regions and their associated skills ecosystems. The review demonstrates that PCR transitions are not only technical but socio-institutional: while Onshore Power Supplies (OPSs), alternative fuels, and digital platforms are transforming operational landscapes, the success of these innovations depends critically on the adaptive capacity of workers, training systems, and governance arrangements. The article further examines emerging pedagogical approaches in port-adjacent VET, including work-based learning, micro-credentials, and immersive training methods. Taken together, the evidence converges on a central claim: the resilience and sustainability of port city regions depend on integrated skills systems that combine foresight, inclusivity, and pedagogical innovation. Without such systems, decarbonisation and digitalisation risk exacerbating social and spatial inequalities rather than fostering sustainable growth. The article concludes by outlining implications for research, policy, and practice, calling for integrative performance metrics, longitudinal evaluation, and quadruple helix collaboration to support inclusive, competitive, and sustainable port transitions.