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A tribute to the great Geek composer and musician, Mikis Theodorakis (1925-2021)
by ECTN Mixed music by an ensemble of the National Conservatoire of Athens and 'Rebetiko Kompania' of Eva Xenou, singer ECTN annual Conference and Awards ceremony, Athens, Greece, 20-21 October 2021
ECTN welcomes the European Year of Youth 2022!
ECTN welcomes the announcement by the EU institutions regarding 2022 as European Year of Youth. Although there is no direct reference to tourism and culture, the European Year is an opportunity to motivate young Europeans to discover, study and enjoy the rich European culture and heritage through sustainable cultural tourism! ECTN is ready to assist the EU institutions towards this aim, by including specal reference to European Youth in several ECTN activities during 2022. In particular, the 1st objective is relevant to sustainable cultural tourism activities for young Europeans: "Renewing the positive perspectives for young people, with a particular focus on the negative effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on them, while highlighting how the green and digital transitions and other Union policies offer opportunities for young people and for the society at large". 
ECTN welcomes the cooperation between UNWTO and
Council of Europe on promoting Cultural Routes As announced on 23 November 2021, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Council of Europe will work together to develop the opportunities tourism offers to local communities and to enhance the tourist experience along the European region's Cultural Routes. ECTN strongly welcomes and will support this important initiative at all levels. According to the announcement by both UNWTO and Council of Europe: "The joint actions will be aimed at recognizing the added value that cultural routes offer for sustainable tourism development, cultural heritage safeguarding and intercultural dialogue. The collaboration will also further highlight the routes’ potential for advancing social, economic and cultural development, benefitting both Europe and its partner countries by strengthening cultural and historical ties." All of the above are highly relevant to ECTN, in terms of sustainable cultural tourism development as a top prioriry along Cultural Routes and related UNESCO World Heritage Sites. ECTN is ready and willing to contribute to the UNWTO/Council of Europe initiative in the ECTN member destinations and related European Cultural Routes. For more details please visit: UNWTO and Council of Europe websites. Memorandum of Cooperation 
Interreg Europe CHRISTA project extended till September 2022
The CHRISTA project in the EU Interreg Europe interregional cooperation programme is extended for a further 12 months, October 2021 - September 2022, regarding the impacts of the pandemic and the very much needed recovery of sustainable cultural tourism. The extension is approved by Interreg Europe programme, following a special call. ECTN as an advisory partner has been the instigator of the additional application and will support the partners with expertise. The following key topics will be addressed: 1. Facing the pandemic crisis, in terms of exchanges regarding protection measures taken to avoid the spread of coronavirus amongst visitors to cultural & heritage places of interest & still continue to develop cultural tourism through virtual means. 2. Regenerating European tourism through culture & heritage in the post-pandemic era, particularly involving Intangible heritage, Industrial heritage, Interpretation of heritage & Innovation / digitisation policies (i.e. the CHRISTA 4 I), for sustainable & responsible tourism actions. The CHRISTA partnership comprises tourism boards & associations, regional & local authorities, supported by advisory partner. 
'St Paul's footsteps Cultural Route' under evaluation by the Council of Europe for certification
Following the submission of the applicationfor certification to the Council of Europe in July2021, the European Cultural Route "In the footsteps of St Paul, the Apostle of the nations" is under evaluation. The application has met the eligibility criteria as a candidate Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. ECTN is a founding member of the Cultural Route. The expert appointed by the Council of Europe EICR has visited Central Macedonia Region in Greece (Presidency of the Cultural Route) and had discussions with founding members Lazio Region, Italy (Vice-Presidency) and Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, Cyprus (Treasurer). The expert's visit was facilitated by ECTN, founding member, Secretariat and Director of the Cultural Route European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). This is a legacy of the Cult-RInG Interreg Europe project in which ECTN has been the main instigator and an advisory partner. The ECTN Awards ceremony took place in Athens, Greece, on 21 October 2021,
at the 14th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe 
ECTN supports the UNWTO World Tourism Day 2021 !
Cultural Tourism as a main driver of Inclusive Growth will be highlighted at the ECTN annual Conference and Awards 2021. The ECTN 2021 events are included in the WTD 2021 lists of events worldwide. 
ECTN welcomes the adoption of the 'EU Digital COVID Certificate' Regulation by the EU Council and Parliament
ECTN as a signatory of the Tourism Manifesto joins the other 60+ travel and tourism organisations in calling on EU Member States to ensure the implementation in order to enable the restart of European tourism, particularly thorugh culture, heritage and creativity, with sustainability and resilience. Download the Tourism Manifesto Press Release 
ECTN supports the European Cultural Heritage Green Paper “Putting Europe’s shared heritage at the heart of the European Green Deal” by Europa Nostra in cooperation with ICOMOS and the Climate Heritage Network, with the input of other members of the European Heritage Alliance, also supported by the European Investment Bank Institute and the Creative Europe programme of the European Union There are some 40 references on tourism, including sustainable cultural tourism, therefore this document is of high relevance to the work of ECTN. It will be certainly included in the revised 4th edition of the "Charter for Sustainable Cultural Tourism", currently in progress to be launched at the ECTN Conference and Awards ceremony in Athens, Greece, on 21-22 October 2021. Executive Summary and Full Paper 
ECTN welcomes the European Commission proposal to create a Digital Green Certificate to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU Press Release by Tourism Manifesto Alliance 
ECTN supports the #Tourism4Recovery campaign and the ‘Call for Action: Accelerate Social and Economic Recovery by Investing in Sustainable Tourism Development’ 
ECTN welcomes the new guidelines on responsible restart of cultural tourism by UNWTO in collaboration with UNESCO News Release Guidelines 
ECTN celebrated 10 years of activities 2009 - 2019 !
ECTN was established as AISLB in Brussels on 20 May 2009. This year ECTN celebrates 10 years of continuous activities and growth, from the 6 founding members in 2009 to 29 members in 2019 and from 5 countries to 19 countries! During its 10 years of existence, ECTN has participated in 5 EU co-funded projects (4 currently active, established by the ECTN Secretariat), organised 9 international conferences and awarded annual prizes for 'Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism' since 2014.
ECTN a member of the Stakeholders Commitee for the EUROPEAN YEAR OF CULTURAL HERITAGE 2018, selected by the European Commission DG Education & Culture (EAC)
ECTN is the only member of the EYCH 2018 Stakeholders Committee with a tourism mandate |
ECTN welcomes new members and previous members rejoining ECTN is a member of the:
ECTN is a signatory of the:
ECTN Projects:
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