Winners of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2024 revealed

The winners were announced during the Award ceremony that took place in the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024, Dublin, Ireland, on 24^th October 2024.

The ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ Awards aim to enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, provide a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge and foster networking among destinations. For the seventh 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, focusing on ‘European Collaboration for Smart and Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destinations’,  is supported by the ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism), Dublin European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024 and the Dublin City Council. The Awards contest was open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their achievements and contributions in sustainable cultural tourism across five categories.

The winners and runners-up were selected by an expert jury (composed of representatives of ETC, ECTN, Europa Nostra, ENAT, Tourism Ireland and Dublin City Council), out of 49 applications received from 21 countries. Following last year’s example, the public was given the chance to cast their votes for their favourite project within each category from a pool of 17 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 Dublin, a vibrant and historic city known for its rich cultural heritage.

See the full list of winners below.

Public vote – winner:

A Transient Legacy – Digitalization of the Silesian Regional Mining Heritage 

By Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, Poland

with ERIH (European Route of Industrial Heritage) Anchor Point

Jury vote – winners per category:

ACCESSIBILITY TO HERITAGE, AS A COMPONENT OF SMART TOURISM AND SMART DESTINATIONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENAT

• 1^st prize ex aequo:

Cittadella Visitor Accessibility

By Historia Travel s.r.l., Italy

Wow – Wonderful Wintergarden (B)

By Karvansera, Belgium

• ^2rd prize:

Modernism Architecture: The Optimistic Narrative of Kaunas

By Visit Kaunas, Kaunas IN, Lithuania

• Special mention:

From the Middle Ages to the Future: an accessible Montagnana for all

By Comune di Montagnana, Italy

INTANGIBLE HERITAGE, INCLUDING FESTIVALS FOR SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL TOURISM

• 1^st prize:

Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula Cultural Calendar of Events

By Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance, Ireland

• 2^nd prize:

Liget Budapest, in City Park of Budapest

By Városliget Corp, Visitor and Event Management Group, Hungary

• 3^rd prize:

The International Youth Art Festival “Kaleidoscope”

By City of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Special mention:

The International Classical Music Festival VinOpera

By Constantin Mimi Foundation, Republic of Moldova

DIGITALISATION ADVANCES AND DIGITAL TRANSITION IN SMART AND SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL TOURISM

• 1^st prize:

Digital Spotlight Heritage Timisoara

By Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania

• 2^nd prize:

Mysteries of submerged villages

By Šaleška Valley Tourist Board, Slovenia

• 3^rd prize:

Innovative Raudondvaris: Harmonizing Digital Experiences and Cultural Heritage

By Raudondvaris Manor, Lithuania

TRANSNATIONAL THEMATIC TOURISM PRODUCTS, ON CULTURE AND HERITAGE

• 1^st prize:

Camino Portugues Coastal Hiking Route

By Follow the Camino, Ireland

Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Portugal and Galicia, Spain

• 2^nd prize:

A transient legacy – digitalization of the Silesian regional mining heritage

By Coal Mining Museum at Zabrze, Poland

with ERIH (European Route of Industrial Heritage) Anchor Point

• 3^rd prize:

Digital nomads in central Istria

By Tourist board of central Istria, Croatia

COASTAL AND MARITIME HERITAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL TOURISM 

• 1^st prize:

CLARE: A Coast, a Car, an Audio Guide, at West Coast of County Clare (Wild Atlantic Way)

By Cultural Roadmapp, Republic of Ireland

• 2^nd prize:

Community Involvement and Visitors’ Experiences at the “Skiathos Maritime and Cultural Tradition Museum”

By Skiathos Maritime and Culture Tradition Museum, Skiathos island, Northern Sporades, Greece

• 3rd prize:

Multimedia Interpretation Center ”Man and the sea”

By Lopar Tourist Board, Island of Rab–Lopar, Croatia