Call for Presenters
The 18th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe will be held in Sibiu, Romania, on 1-4 October 2025,
with overall theme:
Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable,
Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations
Call for Presenters
The 18th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe will be held in Sibiu, Romania, on 1-4 October 2025,
with overall theme:
Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable,
Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations
Special Awards for Best papers related to a Doctoral thesis (1000 EUR) and a Master dissertation (500 EUR)
The 18th ECTN conference with main theme ''Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable, Smart, and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations" will discuss the latest trends in the field of culture, heritage, smart and sustainable tourism; including innovation, resilience (for the first time) and cultural tourism product development. The emphasis will be on the important role of culture and heritage, digitalisation, resilience, and sustainability, related to the authenticity of visitor experiences, smart tourism and smart destinations.
The ECTN 2025 Conference is organised in the framework of the INSPIRES SMP Project, the 'Transition Pathway for Tourism' co-implementation (European Commission DG MOVE, formerly DG GROW) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerning Tourism. Also in relation to the Interreg Europe projects EnoGastroDEST and Smart Tour.
The conference aims to explore major challenges, risks and opportunities for resilient, smart, sustainable, and responsible tourism development related to culture and heritage assets, as well as suggest practical steps for the development and promotion of cultural tourism products. The theme encompasses all forms of culture, including contemporary cultural expressions, all forms of cultural heritage and smart solutions.
Presenters are invited to showcase relevant experience, share their best practices, give detailed examples, and provide practical recommendations for preserving, restoring, deploying, and promoting culture and heritage values, with innovations for smart, sustainable, and responsible tourism development.
The conference is organised in close cooperation with the Sibiu County Tourism Association and ECTN members.
The submitted Abstracts should address at least one of the following topics linked to resilient, smart, and sustainable cultural and heritage tourism:
Submission deadline: 10 June 2025.
Other Information:
There will be no delegate fees for selected presenters attending the Conference (one person per selected presentation).
Participants, including selected presenters, will have to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. ECTN cannot cover travel expenses.
Abstracts and presentations accepted by the Programme Committee of the Conference may be published online with the author's approval.
A post-conference study tour in Sibiu County is planned, and selected presenters will be invited.
The Awards ceremony of the ECTN prize for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2025’ will take place in conjunction the Conference. The 2025 ECTN Awards are in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, in the framework of the EU 'Transition Pathway for Tourism' (European Commission DG MOVE, formerly DG GROW) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they concern Tourism.
Contacts
e-mail: [email protected]
Programme Committee
The ECTN 2025 Conference is organised in the framework of the INSPIRES SMP Project, the 'Transition Pathway for Tourism' co-implementation (European Commission DG MOVE, formerly DG GROW) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerning Tourism. Also in relation to the Interreg Europe projects EnoGastroDEST and Smart Tour.
The conference aims to explore major challenges, risks and opportunities for resilient, smart, sustainable, and responsible tourism development related to culture and heritage assets, as well as suggest practical steps for the development and promotion of cultural tourism products. The theme encompasses all forms of culture, including contemporary cultural expressions, all forms of cultural heritage and smart solutions.
Presenters are invited to showcase relevant experience, share their best practices, give detailed examples, and provide practical recommendations for preserving, restoring, deploying, and promoting culture and heritage values, with innovations for smart, sustainable, and responsible tourism development.
The conference is organised in close cooperation with the Sibiu County Tourism Association and ECTN members.
The submitted Abstracts should address at least one of the following topics linked to resilient, smart, and sustainable cultural and heritage tourism:
- Resilience in Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destinations (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project), including natural heritage, green transition, and climate action.
- Wine and Gastronomy Tourism based on eno-culinary heritage preservation (linked to the ‘EnoGastroDEST’ Interreg Europe project), including authentic experiences.
- Digitalisation in Smart Tourism Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences (linked to the ‘Smart Tour’ Interreg Europe project)
- Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage, including European Cultural Routes and European Heritage Label networks, cross-border and multi-destination tourism initiatives involving at least 2 countries.
- Cultural Tourism Services for All, Visitors and Residents Alike (linked to the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism Topic 26), including authenticity and sustainable cultural tourism for the younger generation.
- EU Transition Pathway for Tourism (TPT): co-implementation synergies related to Culture, Heritage, Innovation and Smart Tourism.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): activities related to Sustainable Cultural Tourism.
Submission deadline: 10 June 2025.
Other Information:
There will be no delegate fees for selected presenters attending the Conference (one person per selected presentation).
Participants, including selected presenters, will have to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation. ECTN cannot cover travel expenses.
Abstracts and presentations accepted by the Programme Committee of the Conference may be published online with the author's approval.
A post-conference study tour in Sibiu County is planned, and selected presenters will be invited.
The Awards ceremony of the ECTN prize for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2025’ will take place in conjunction the Conference. The 2025 ECTN Awards are in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, in the framework of the EU 'Transition Pathway for Tourism' (European Commission DG MOVE, formerly DG GROW) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they concern Tourism.
Contacts
e-mail: [email protected]
Programme Committee
- Manos Vougioukas, Chair (ECTN Secretary-General)
- Simina Manea, Sibiu County Tourism Association, Executive Director, Romania (ECTN President)
- Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, Executive Manager, Cyprus (ECTN Immediate Past President)
- Franziska Stenzel, Experience Bremerhaven, Germany (ECTN Board member)
- Dr Jordi Tresserras, LABPATC, University of Barcelona/Ibertur, Spain (ECTN Board member)
- Prof Jessika Weber, Breda University of Applied Science, Netherlands (ECTN Board member)
- Barry Rogers, Head of Dublin City Tourism Unit, Ireland (ECTN Board member)
- Amra Jaganjac, Tourism Board of the City of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (ECTN Board member)
- Cristi Frent, General Director of National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism (INCDT), Romania
- Bosse Lagerqvist, University of Gothenberg, Sweden
- Prof Sandra Janković, University of Rijeka, Croatia
- Dr Nick Vogiazidis, University of Thessaly, Greece
Abstract Details
IMPORTANT DATES
Closing date for submission of Abstracts: 10 June 2025
Submission approval: 30 June 2025
Presentation submission: 15 September 2025
The Conference: 1-4 October 2025
- The Conference language will be in English
- Official language for Abstracts: English
- Abstracts are to be submitted online (maximum 300 words)
- All abstracts will be judged by the Conference Programme Committee
- Selected Abstracts (title or presentation, author, organisation) will be included in the Conference Programme
- Presentations (maximum 20 slides) including video (2 – 3 minutes) are encouraged (15 minutes maximum).
IMPORTANT DATES
Closing date for submission of Abstracts: 10 June 2025
Submission approval: 30 June 2025
Presentation submission: 15 September 2025
The Conference: 1-4 October 2025
ECTN cannot cover travel expenses for selected presenters, but delegate fees will be waived for one person per presentation.
ECTN members have 2 free places.
ECTN is not responsible for arranging visas for delegates or journalists to attend the Conference.
ECTN members have 2 free places.
ECTN is not responsible for arranging visas for delegates or journalists to attend the Conference.
