Sustainable Cultural Tourism is the integrated management of cultural heritage and tourism activities in conjunction with the local community, creating social, environmental and economic benefits for all stakeholders in order to achieve tangible and intangible cultural heritage conservation and sustainable tourism development. (European Commission DG EAC, OMC Report 2019).
Sustainable Tourism is tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. (UNWTO).
Sustainable Tourism is tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. (UNWTO).
9 November 2022
Pafos, current ECTN Presidency, a European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2023! Pafos is a European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023, together with Seville. Pafos Regional Board of Tourism currently holds the Presidency of the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN). The selection was made by a jury composed by representatives of EU institutions (European Parliament TRAN Commitee 1st Vice President, Committee of the Regions NAT Commission President, senior officers of European Commission DG GROW). The announcement was made in Brussels today, following presentations of all finalists to the Jury and the decision of the Jury. In breaking the news, a member of the Jury stated: "Pafos is a city full of initiatives, has become a smart leader, thanks to your forward looking approach, so well done for that! We were particularly impressed by the commitment to meeting ambitious sustainability objectives, with constant monitoring at the same time and a strategy retune in place. And we were also pleased with you realizing your plan to work together with previous winners of this competition. You had a series of successes! You were a capital in ancient times, a former European Capital of Culture and now on top of this, well done, a 2023 European Capital of Smart Tourism, well done again!" This is the first time that a tourist destination in Cyprus wins this contest. Pafos and Seville are the two Capitals of Smart Tourism for 2023, selected amongst seven finalists. The finalists had been selected by a panel of independent experts with specialist knowledge covering each award category (accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation, cultural heritage and creativity), who evaluated all submitted applications. This is the first time that a tourist destination in Cyprus wins this contest. The cities that had been shortlisted for the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023 award were Aarhus (Denmark), Gijón (Spain), Pafos (Cyprus), Porto (Portugal), San Sebastián (Spain), Seville (Spain), Zagreb (Croatia), as finalists selected from 29 candidates from 13 countries. All shortlisted cities presented their candidatures in front of a European Jury in Brussels on 9 September. Coming with the title of 2023 European Capital of Smart Tourism, communication and branding support throughout 2023 will be provided to the winners. This includes a promotional video, a specially designed hashtag sculpture for the city to display, and tailored promotional actions designed to increase visibility at EU and global level and increase the number of visitors. Smart tourism, according to the European Commission's definition, responds to new challenges and demands in a fast-changing sector, including the evolution of digital tools, products and services; equal opportunity and access for all visitors; sustainable development of the local area; and support to creative industries, local talent and heritage. ECTN having supported this EU initiative from the outset and the candidature of Pafos is very pleased that the current ECTN Presidency Pafos is one of the two European Capitals of Smart Tourism for 2023! Previously, another ECTN member, Bremerhaven had reached the final stage of this prestigious title. We look forward to the synergies between Pafos ECTN Presidency and Smart Tourism Capital of Europe next year! Congratulations and all the best for 2023 to Pafos and Seville! 
ECTN welcomes and supports the
European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2023 The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched in 2002 by the European Commission and have been run by Europa Nostra ever since. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Europe’s most prestigious Awards in the heritage field. The Awards identify and promote best practices in the conservation and enhancement of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, stimulate the trans-frontier exchange of knowledge throughout Europe, increase public awareness and appreciation of Europe’s cultural heritage and encourage further excellent initiatives through the power of example. The Awards honour every year up to 30 outstanding heritage achievements, among which up to five Grand Prix. Each winner of a Grand Prix receives a monetary award of €10.000. In addition, the Public Choice Award is presented to one of the selected award winners, following an online vote conducted by Europa Nostra. Apply by 25 November 2022 Categories: 1) Conservation & Adaptive Reuse: Outstanding projects aiming at conservation, regeneration and adaptation to new uses of cultural heritage, including cultural landscapes. 2) Research: Innovative research projects which lead to tangible effects for the safeguard and enhancement of cultural heritage or/and to improve the access, enjoyment and understanding of heritage assets by communities. 3) Education, Training & Skills: Exemplary projects or related to cultural heritage with the aim of fostering knowledge transfer, capacity-building and/or enhancing traditional or new skills and crafts related to heritage. 4) Citizens Engagement & Awareness-raising: Outstanding heritage-led projects which foster social cohesion, inclusion, multicultural dialogue and understanding, nurture a sense of place and belonging, celebrate diversity and multiple identities as well as stimulate citizens’ engagement, ownership and civic responsibility. 5) Heritage Champions: Influential and inspiring individuals or organisations whose exemplary action demonstrates an exceptional level of dedication, impact and civic engagement for the safeguard and enhancement of cultural heritage. 
ECTN welcomes the publication 'Transition pathway for tourism' *
The aim of this report is to describe the measures and outputs needed to accelerate the green and digital transitions and improve the resilience of the tourism ecosystem. The objective is to encourage and invite all groups and stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem to engage and play their part in the initiative. The work to prepare the pathway has followed a collaborative approach involving all stakeholder groups. Similar active and productive collaboration should support also the way forward. Following the publication of this report, the Commission will invite tourism stakeholders to present their commitments to the transition pathway for tourism, and it will establish collaboration processes for the co-implementation and monitoring of the work. The follow-up of the transition pathway will be facilitated by an online stakeholder collaboration platform, which is to be established by end of 2022. The report includes several references in relation to cultural heritage tourism. In particular, ECTN welcomes the several and highly relevant references on:
The above will be included in the updated ECTN Charter for Sustainable Cultural Tourism as well as in the contribution by ECTN on cultural heritage managememt guidelines in the framework of the ReInHerit Horizon2020 Coordination and Support Action. They will also be presented and discussed at the ECTN annual Conference 2022. * European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Transition pathway for tourism, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/344425 
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 is a member of the:
ECTN is a signatory of the:
ECTN Projects:
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