Call for Presenters
The 19th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe will be held in Skiathos, Greece, on 23-26 September 2026,
with overall theme:
Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe:
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism
Call for Presenters
The 19th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe will be held in Skiathos, Greece, on 23-26 September 2026,
with overall theme:
Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe:
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism
Special Awards for Best papers related to a Doctoral thesis (1000 EUR) and a Master dissertation (500 EUR)
The 19th ECTN conference with main theme ''Sustainable Tourism Startegy and Culture Compass for Europe:
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism" will discuss the latest trends in the field of culture, heritage, smart and sustainable tourism; including innovation, resilience and renegerative cultural tourism development (for the 1st time). The emphasis will be on the important role of culture and heritage, digitalisation, resilience, regeneration and sustainability, related to enhancing visitor experiences, smart tourism, and smart destinations.
Key latest developments at the European level will be particularly the focus in 2026, suchas the forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy (expected to be launched in April 2026) and the Culture Compass for Europe, already launched in November 2025 and including Cultural Tourism.
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.
The conference aims to explore major challenges, risks and opportunities for resilient, smart, sustainable, and regenerative 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 regenerative tourism development.
The conference is organised in close cooperation with the Skiathos Municipality 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: 15 May 2026.
Other Information:
There will be no delegate fees for selected presenters attending the Conference (up to two persons 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 on Skiathos Island is planned, and selected presenters will be invited.
The Awards ceremony for the ECTN prize for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2026’ will take place in conjunction with the Conference. The 2026 ECTN Awards are in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, supported by INSPIRES SMP-COSME Project, Europeana, the Creative Tourism Network and ENAT.
Contacts
e-mail: [email protected]
Programme Committee
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism" will discuss the latest trends in the field of culture, heritage, smart and sustainable tourism; including innovation, resilience and renegerative cultural tourism development (for the 1st time). The emphasis will be on the important role of culture and heritage, digitalisation, resilience, regeneration and sustainability, related to enhancing visitor experiences, smart tourism, and smart destinations.
Key latest developments at the European level will be particularly the focus in 2026, suchas the forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy (expected to be launched in April 2026) and the Culture Compass for Europe, already launched in November 2025 and including Cultural Tourism.
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.
The conference aims to explore major challenges, risks and opportunities for resilient, smart, sustainable, and regenerative 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 regenerative tourism development.
The conference is organised in close cooperation with the Skiathos Municipality 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.
- Creative Tourism and Co-Creating Cultural Tourism Experiences. Supported by the Creative Tourism Network.
- Digitalisation in Smart Tourism Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences (linked to the ‘Smart Tour’ Interreg Europe project). Supprted by Europeana.
- 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.
- Active, Slow and Accessible Tourism. Walking, Cycling and Hiking Tourism around Culture and Heritage. Supported by ENAT
- Regenerative Tourism and Heritage-led Destination Regeneration. Synergies between Regenerative and Cultural Tourism.
Submission deadline: 15 May 2026.
Other Information:
There will be no delegate fees for selected presenters attending the Conference (up to two persons 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 on Skiathos Island is planned, and selected presenters will be invited.
The Awards ceremony for the ECTN prize for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2026’ will take place in conjunction with the Conference. The 2026 ECTN Awards are in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, supported by INSPIRES SMP-COSME Project, Europeana, the Creative Tourism Network and ENAT.
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)
- Amra Jaganjac, Tourism Board of the City of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (ECTN Board member)
- Cristi Frent, General Director of the National Institute for Research and Development in Tourism (INCDT), Romania
- Dr Nick Vogiazidis, University of Thessaly, Greece
Abstract Details
IMPORTANT DATES
Closing date for submission of Abstracts: 15 May 2026
Submission approval: 1 July 2026
Presentation submission: 10 September 2026
The Conference: 23-26 September 2026
- 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: 15 May 2026
Submission approval: 1 July 2026
Presentation submission: 10 September 2026
The Conference: 23-26 September 2026
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.
