The INTERREG IIIC programme was one of the three strands of the European Community Initiative INTERREG III.
The co-operations under INTERREG IIIC gave access to experience of other actors involved in regional development policy and created synergies between "best practice" projects and the Structural Funds mainstream programmes. The overall aim was to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and instruments through large-scale information exchange and sharing of experience (networks) in a structured way.
The INTERREG IIIC programme was financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as part of the Structural Funds, and co-financed by national project partners. The application period was 2002-2006.
In 2007-2013 the promotion of interregional co-operation is continued in the framework of the INTERREG IVC programme.
The co-operations under INTERREG IIIC gave access to experience of other actors involved in regional development policy and created synergies between "best practice" projects and the Structural Funds mainstream programmes. The overall aim was to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and instruments through large-scale information exchange and sharing of experience (networks) in a structured way.
The INTERREG IIIC programme was financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as part of the Structural Funds, and co-financed by national project partners. The application period was 2002-2006.
In 2007-2013 the promotion of interregional co-operation is continued in the framework of the INTERREG IVC programme.
Project ECTN - European Cultural Tourism Network
Problem description
Cultural tourism is recognised as one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism and it has become an important element of the regional economic development activity financed by the European Commission. It is essential to ensure that cultural tourism is developed in a way that maintains regional identity and culture and facilitates multicultural dialogue. The Commission wants to promote proactive cooperation between tourism companies, tourist destinations and their national, regional and local authorities to protect natural and cultural heritage and to ensure that it develops in a sustainable way.
Overall objective
The aim of ECTN is for regions with an interest in developing cultural tourism to share experience and good practice for regional economic development and job creation. By definition, good practice implies cultural tourism projects and policies that have positive impacts (economically, socially and environmentally) and contribute to sustainable regional development.
Expected results
ECTN is working towards the future development of cultural tourism in Europe by creating a network which not only provides a link for cultural and tourism sectors across Europe, it also promotes cultural tourism policy and highlights the partner regions as cultural tourism destinations. The partners are working together to develop more effective and sustainable cultural tourism projects and schemes. This information is used to define and provide examples of good practice, which is then disseminated to the partners using various methods such as a website, workshops newsletters and staff exchanges, and two databases; one with listings of relevant cultural tourism contacts and one containing good practice case studies. The project will provide a final report incorporating a guide to best practice in the development of Cultural Tourism Destinations and an analysis of the market for the sector. The success rate of transferring good practice is measured by the adoption of specific aspects from other region's strategies.
Partnership
Activities / achievements
From the start of the project in January 2005, the network has by working in partnership with the different members raised the profile of the importance of cultural tourism in Europe. This awareness raising in the first instance has been achieved through a number of planned activities.
These included 4 thematic workshops which showcased some of the best practice case studies in cultural tourism development in Europe.
Project included sustainable transport development, minority languages, strategic development and cultural tourism, industrial heritage and economic regeneration, environmental impact and most recently how to best use European Funding to develop cultural tourism.
The workshop in Finland (September 2006) and the annual conference (November 2006) looked specifically at how the new European programmes are developing & how cultural tourism development is addressing many of Europes key challenges.
The ECTN focussed particulary on how different regions with the ECTN partnership and wider are beginning to recognise cultural tourism as a key driver in economic, environmental and social terms. In taking these good news stories forward as a partnership.
ECTN has been able to actively collect all the activities ongoing with each partner region and develop further links with existing networks and partnership to share information on trends and key data on cultural tourism. This networking outside of the ECTN partnership has also enabled the growth of interest at the 4 thematic workshops and circulation lists. A number of partners are now working together in exchanging information on key challenges of developing cultural tourism and key drivers . In order to gather more detailed information, the ECTN partners took place in a number of staff exchanges which were aimed at securing information on key themes of cultural tourism, such as religious tourism, industrial heritage, film tourism etc. In addition to this, the network has also held 2 annual conferences in Cardiff and Gothenburg aimed at showcasing the findings and enabling further exchange. As a result of the annual conferences and thematic workshops, ECTN has grown its membership and is now actively working with key partners.
All the key findings, research and best practice identified during the course of the project is currently being formulated into a final working report which is now being used by all partners and the wider network to help guide further cultural tourism development in the future. Partners continued to exchange information on potential future projects and actions to take the ECTN partnership forward.
Key outputs
The Cardiff Declaration of European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) INTERREG IIIC project (July 2005)
Problem description
Cultural tourism is recognised as one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism and it has become an important element of the regional economic development activity financed by the European Commission. It is essential to ensure that cultural tourism is developed in a way that maintains regional identity and culture and facilitates multicultural dialogue. The Commission wants to promote proactive cooperation between tourism companies, tourist destinations and their national, regional and local authorities to protect natural and cultural heritage and to ensure that it develops in a sustainable way.
Overall objective
The aim of ECTN is for regions with an interest in developing cultural tourism to share experience and good practice for regional economic development and job creation. By definition, good practice implies cultural tourism projects and policies that have positive impacts (economically, socially and environmentally) and contribute to sustainable regional development.
Expected results
ECTN is working towards the future development of cultural tourism in Europe by creating a network which not only provides a link for cultural and tourism sectors across Europe, it also promotes cultural tourism policy and highlights the partner regions as cultural tourism destinations. The partners are working together to develop more effective and sustainable cultural tourism projects and schemes. This information is used to define and provide examples of good practice, which is then disseminated to the partners using various methods such as a website, workshops newsletters and staff exchanges, and two databases; one with listings of relevant cultural tourism contacts and one containing good practice case studies. The project will provide a final report incorporating a guide to best practice in the development of Cultural Tourism Destinations and an analysis of the market for the sector. The success rate of transferring good practice is measured by the adoption of specific aspects from other region's strategies.
Partnership
- Welsh Assembly Government, Department of Enterprise, Innovation & Networks, UK (Lead Partner)
- Oviedo Chamber of Commerce, Principiado de Asturias, Spain
- Latvian Tourism Development Agency, Latvia
- Turku Science Park Ltd., Finland
- The County Council of Huelva, Andalusia, Spain
- Regional Development Agency of North Hungary, Miskolc, Hungary
- Midland Regional Authority, Tullamore, Ireland
- Foundation for the Development of the Legacy of al-Andalus, Granada, Spain
- Region Västra Götaland, Boras, Sweden
- Aosta Valley Autonomous Region, Aoste, Italy
Activities / achievements
From the start of the project in January 2005, the network has by working in partnership with the different members raised the profile of the importance of cultural tourism in Europe. This awareness raising in the first instance has been achieved through a number of planned activities.
These included 4 thematic workshops which showcased some of the best practice case studies in cultural tourism development in Europe.
Project included sustainable transport development, minority languages, strategic development and cultural tourism, industrial heritage and economic regeneration, environmental impact and most recently how to best use European Funding to develop cultural tourism.
The workshop in Finland (September 2006) and the annual conference (November 2006) looked specifically at how the new European programmes are developing & how cultural tourism development is addressing many of Europes key challenges.
The ECTN focussed particulary on how different regions with the ECTN partnership and wider are beginning to recognise cultural tourism as a key driver in economic, environmental and social terms. In taking these good news stories forward as a partnership.
ECTN has been able to actively collect all the activities ongoing with each partner region and develop further links with existing networks and partnership to share information on trends and key data on cultural tourism. This networking outside of the ECTN partnership has also enabled the growth of interest at the 4 thematic workshops and circulation lists. A number of partners are now working together in exchanging information on key challenges of developing cultural tourism and key drivers . In order to gather more detailed information, the ECTN partners took place in a number of staff exchanges which were aimed at securing information on key themes of cultural tourism, such as religious tourism, industrial heritage, film tourism etc. In addition to this, the network has also held 2 annual conferences in Cardiff and Gothenburg aimed at showcasing the findings and enabling further exchange. As a result of the annual conferences and thematic workshops, ECTN has grown its membership and is now actively working with key partners.
All the key findings, research and best practice identified during the course of the project is currently being formulated into a final working report which is now being used by all partners and the wider network to help guide further cultural tourism development in the future. Partners continued to exchange information on potential future projects and actions to take the ECTN partnership forward.
Key outputs
The Cardiff Declaration of European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) INTERREG IIIC project (July 2005)
| cardiff_declaration.pdf |
The Gothenburg Declaration of ECTN on Cultural Tourism (November 2006)
| gothenburg_declaration.pdf |
