The ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ Awards aim to amplify the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, establish a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge and foster networking among destinations. For the sixth consecutive year, the European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra, and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR) have jointly organised these awards to promote best practices in sustainable cultural tourism.
This year’s edition focuses on ‘Smart Tourism – Smart Destinations: Cultural Heritage & Creativity, Digitalisation, Sustainability’ and is supported by the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023, the city of Pafos, and ReInHerit Horizon2020 Coordination and Support Action. The Awards contest was open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their achievements and contributions in sustainable cultural tourism across six categories.
The winners and runners-up were selected by an expert jury (composed of representatives of ETC, ECTN, Europa Nostra, NECSTouR, the European Parliament CULT Committee and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus), out of 60 applications received from 25 countries. For the first time ever, the public was also given the chance to cast their votes for their favourite project within each category from the pool of 20 finalists. The Public Choice Award was presented to the candidate who received the highest number of votes among all contestants.
The winners were revealed at an Awards ceremony held in beautiful Pafos, a year-round destination and one of Cyprus’s most diverse and historically rich regions. Once the capital of the island during Roman times, Pafos holds the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2023.
Three of the winning projects were submitted by ETC members – Turismo de Portugal and Fáilte Ireland:
See the full list of winners below, and detailed descriptions of all projects in the accompanying brochure.
Winner:
Holistic Digital Documentation of Asinou Church a UNESCO World Heritage Monument
By UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
(inception EU Horizon 2020 project)
DIGITALISATION ADVANCES AND DIGITAL TRANSITION IN SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL TOURISM
1st prize:
rurAllure: promotion of rural museums and heritage sites in the vicinity of European pilgrimage routes
By University of Vigo, Spain
for Galicia region (Spain) and Northern Portugal; Italy with a specific focus on Veneto, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna regions, south-eastern Norway; Hungary, Slovakia, and Romanian Transylvania
(rurAllure EU Horizon 2020 project)
2nd prize:
Dublin Discovery Trails App
By Dublin City Council, Ireland,
funded by Fáilte Ireland, National Tourism Development Authority, Republic of Ireland, under their Destination Towns Initiative
3rd prize:
The Golden Path – Hungarian Money Museum and Visitors Center
By the Hungarian Money Museum and Visitors Center in Budapest, Hungary
Mention:
Holistic Digital Documentation of Asinou Church a UNESCO World Heritage Monument
By UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
(inception EU Horizon 2020 project)
HISTORY AND HERITAGE
1st prize:
REVIVE: Reviving public heritage into sustainable tourism in Portugal
By Turismo de Portugal (National Tourism Authority), Portugal
2nd prize:
Renaturalization and recovery of the historical industrial garden of the Museum of the Water, Central Cornellá
By Museum of the Water (Museu de les Aigues), Cornellà de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
3rd prize:
Sephardic Routes in Spain. Preserving heritage, inspiring tourism
By Red de Juderías de España – Caminos de Sefarad, Spain
Mention:
Ostia, gateway to the Mediterranean – Public Archaeology in Ostia antica (European Heritage Label site)
By the Italian Ministry of Culture, Italy
in cooperation with “Scuole Migranti”
RIVERSIDE HERITAGE
1st prize:
Emajõgi – The Binding River: Drawing Inhabitants Closer in Tartu
By Visit Tartu, Estonia
2nd prize:
Reimagined Boyne Valley Drive at Ireland’s Ancient East
By Fáilte Ireland, National Tourism Development Authority, Republic of Ireland
3rd prize:
The great ship of culture “NEMUNO7”, Zapyškis, Kaunas region
By Kaunas District Tourism and Business Information Center, Lithuania
TRANSNATIONAL THEMATIC TOURISM PRODUCTS
1st prize:
Liberation Route Europe: Transnational memorial of trails connecting World War Two remembrance sites and stories – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
Spanning 9 countries (United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland and Czechia)
By LRE Foundation, Belgium
2nd prize:
Iron Age Danube Route – Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
Spanning 8 countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Romania and Slovenia)
By Iron Age Danube Route Association, Croatia
3rd prize:
Pannonia-Adria Connection (PA.CON) Joint Thematic Tourism Product, cross-border region of Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina
By Tourism Board of the City of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
RELIGIOUS, PILGRIMAGE AND SPIRITUAL TOURISM
1st prize:
Púca Festival at County Meath, Irelands Ancient East
By Fáilte Ireland, National Tourism Development Authority, Republic of Ireland
2nd prize:
“Via Mariae” – The Reconciliation Road at Bucovina
By Suceava County Council, Romania
TRADITIONAL SKILLS, CRAFTS AND CREATIVITY
1st prize:
Regional Museum/Information Centre of Akamas Rural Life at Droushia village
By Droushia Community Council, Cyprus
2nd prize:
Arts & Crafs | New Design Open Days at Algarve, Alentejo, Centro, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Norte
By Spira – revitalização patrimonial (heritage revitalization), with the support of Turismo de Portugal, AICEP Portugal Global, Tourism of Alentejo and Algarve, the Northern Regional Directorate for Culture, the City Councils of Lisbon and Loulé and the specialized communication platform património.pt, Portugal
Joint 3rd prize:
Empowering Women and Revitalizing Talysh Cultural Heritage through Cultural Tourism at Lankaran
by Tor Art LLC, Leyne.Co Community, Azerbaijan
The International Garden Festival at the Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire: The Resilient Garden
By Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire, France