ECTN Awards : applications deadline extended to 1 July 2021
Brussels, 26 May 2021
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 
E-FAITH, the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage, supports the ECTN 2021 Cultural Tourism Conference and Awards, in the framwork of the 'European Year of Rail 2021'
ECTN welcomes this cooperation with E-FAITH, also as a fellow member of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. E-FAITH, the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage is a non-profit making organisation whose objectives are to promote the study of and research in, recording, conservation, development and management, and interpretation of Industrial and Technical Heritage and to facilitate co-operation in Europe between those engaged in these activities. 
EAA, the European Association of Archaeologists supports the ECTN 2021 Cultural Tourism Conference and Awards, in the Conference theme and Awards catergory of 'Archaeological Sites and Museums as Cultural Tourism Attractions'
ECTN welcomes this coopertarion with EAA, also as a fellow member of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. EAA AIMS
FEDECRAIL, the European Federation of Museum and Tourist Railways, supports the ECTN 2021 Cultural Tourism Conference and Awards, in the framwork of the 'European Year of Rail 2021'
ECTN welcomes this coopertarion with FEDECRAIL, also as a fellow member of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. FEDECRAIL seeks to:
ECTN welcomes the re-launch of the EU 'European Capital of Smart Tourism' initiative! Resulting from a preparatory action proposed by the European Parliament, completed in 2019 and 2020, the European Commission is re-launching a competition to award the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2022. This initiative rewards European cities and gives them the opportunity to share their exemplary practices as smart tourism destinations. The initiative will showcase accomplishments by tourism destinations across the EU in the following areas:
The 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism is the third edition of the competition. This initiative rewards European cities for outstanding, innovative and sustainable tourism practices. Applications will first be evaluated by a panel of independent experts. In the second step, up to seven shortlisted cities will be invited to present their city’s candidature in front of the European Jury. The European Jury will select two winners, the European Capitals of Smart Tourism 2022. The aim is to promote innovation to strengthen smart destinations in Europe, to enhance tourism offers for visitors and to facilitate new partnerships, networking and the exchange of best practice. Also aim to foster the EU’s forward-thinking tourism offer to global audiences and sustainably increase footfall at pioneering destinations that offer unique visitor experiences. ECTN welcomes and supports this excellent initiative, particularly since the areas of Sustainability, Cultural Heritage & Creativity are directly related to ECTN's role in promoting Sustainable Cultural Tourism in Europe, as well as 'Accessibility to Heritage' being a good practice already included in the ECTN Charter for Sustainable Cultural Tourism. ECTN urges all its eligible members and related cities to apply. Deadline for applications is 16 June 2021 www.SmartTourismCapital.eu 
ECTN a partner in a new Horizon2020 project on Cultural Heritage Management ECTN is a partner in the new ReInHerit project, Horizon2000 programme. ReInHerit is a Coordinating and Support Action (CSA), 100% funded by the Eurropean Union Horizon2020 programme. The project coordinator is the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation and partners are from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Austria and Finland. The project started in March 2021 with a 3-year duration. ECTN's role is to lead the work on Best Practices regarding Cultural Heritage Management and Cultural Tourism, including organisation of study visits in relevant museums and cultural sites. Best practices will be collected by ECTN members, particularly in countries not represented in the ReInHerit consortium. Furthermore, ECTN will contribute to a 'smart tourism app' development, travelling and digital exhibitions, policy implications for the Research and Innovation Agenda in the next Horizon Europe programme, dissemination and communication activities. The ECTN annual conference will include a special session on ReInHerit CSA in 2023 and 2024. 
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
New ECTN Board 2021-2022
Following the General Assembly held online on 2 December 2020, ECTN has a new Board with effect 1 January 2021 for the next 2 years, viz: President: Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, Cyprus Vice-President: Sibiu County Tourism Association, Romania Members: - Vidzeme Tourism Association, Latvia (Immediate Past President) - Granada Diputacion, Spain - Experience Bremerhaven, Germany - Inter-Community Alto Minho, Portugal - University of Barcelona, Spain - City of Krk, Croatia Secretariat: Argonautica Network, Greece The Working Group coordinators are: - Policy: Vidzeme Tourism Association, Latvia (Immediate Past President) - Practice: Sibiu County Tourism Association, Romania (Vice-President) - Research: University of Barcelona, Spain 
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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