Cultural tourism is the fastest growing sector of European tourism and can contribute both to the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism in the European Union and beyond and to the sustainable future of heritage sites and local communities.
Cultural Tourism products and services are important factors in sustainable development, contributing to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, the extension of the tourism period, as well as increasing heritage awareness among tourists and host communities, regional GDP and its multiplier effects.
These Awards enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, create a platform for sharing experience and knowledge and promotes networking between destinations. The Awards Contest is open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their results and outputs in sustainable cultural tourism under seven selected categories.
The Awards have been organised since 2014 by ECTN around annual themes, for the benefit of destinations, communities, associations, businesses, citizens and visitors.
Call for Entries
The 2019 overall theme is based mainly on the Interreg Europe CHRISTA Project (Culture and Heritage for Responsible, Innovative andSustainable Tourism Actions), initiated by ECTN with 9 partner destinations and ECTN as advisory partner in charge of project communications (2016-2020).
The Awards will be given for achievements by cultural tourist destinations which have produced significant results related to enhancing visitor experience while respecting traditions and involving local communities.
Awards
Award winners will be recognised as examples of excellence inspiring other tourist destinations and stimulating further development of sustainable and responsible cultural tourism initiatives.
Award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony to be held during the 12th International Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe, on the theme of the CHRISTA Interreg Europe Project, organised by ETCN on 24-26 October 2019 in Granada, Spain. The selected finalists will be invited to the ECTN Conference and to the Awards Ceremony 2019. The organiser and partners will not reimburse any costs for attending the Awards Ceremony, but the conference fee will be waived for one person per finalist.
Who can apply?
The Joint Awards are open to all tourist destinations across Europe, national, regional and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, museums, interpretation centres, festivals and cultural NGOs.
Deadline
1st July 2019
Further information
www.europanostra.org
www.etc-corporate.org
www.necstour.eu
www.itervitis.eu
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