Call for Entries: Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2023

Photo source: ETC.

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has announced the opening of applications for the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2023.

This marks the sixth year of ETC’s partnership with the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra, and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR), aimed at encouraging the development of sustainable cultural tourism practices in European destinations.

The theme for this year’s awards is “Smart Tourism – Smart Destinations: Cultural Heritage & Creativity, Digitalization, Sustainability“. The awards will recognize cultural tourist destinations that have produced significant results in enhancing the visitor experience, respecting traditions, and involving local communities.

Applications are open to all tourist destinations across Europe, including national, regional, and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organizations, museums, interpretation centers, cultural routes, festivals, and cultural NGOs.

Interested candidates can submit their applications before the deadline on June 1.

Six categories

Pafos, Cyprus. Photo source: ETC.

Candidates are invited to showcase results concerning sustainable cultural tourism, under one of the six categories:

• Digitalization advances and digital transition in Sustainable Cultural Tourism
• History and Heritage
• Riverside heritage
• Transnational Thematic Tourism Products, including European Cultural Routes (involving at least 2 European countries, not necessarily neighboring)
• Religious, Pilgrimage, and Spiritual Tourism
• Traditional Skills, Crafts, and Creativity (on the occasion of the European Year of Skills 2023)

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, which will take place during the 16th International Conference for Cultural Tourism. The event will be organized by ECTN on 18th-21st October 2023 on Pafos, Cyprus, as an acknowledgment of the award as “European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023“.

The awards stand as an opportunity for European destinations to showcase their efforts in sustainable cultural tourism practices and to be recognized for their commitment to preserving cultural heritage while ensuring responsible tourism.

For more information and to submit an application, please visit the official website of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards by pressing here.