ECTN Awards 2025: Call for Entries for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’
The 2025 edition of the Awards for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ is organised by ECTN in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, supported by Iter Vitis Cultural Route of the Council of Europe and in the framework of the INSPIRES SMP, EnoGastroDEST and Smart Tour Interreg Europe projects. It follows on from the 2018 edition of the Awards which was held as a contribution to the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ (EYCH2018) and the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022,2023 and 2024 editions, by a similar partnership that aims to contribute towards the legacy of EYCH2018 through relevant EU initiatives.
Call for Entries Deadline Extension
The 2025 overall theme is “Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations” and the deadline for submitting applications is now extended to 30 May.
The Awards will be given for achievements by cultural tourist destinations which have produced significant results related to enhancing visitor experience while respecting traditions and involving local host communities.
The 2025 Awards address the following tangible and intangible heritage-related aspects of resilient, smart and sustainable cultural tourism development and promotion:
1. Resilience in Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destinations (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project), including natural heritage, green transition, and climate action.
2. Wine and Gastronomy Tourism based on eno-culinary heritage preservation (linked to the ‘EnoGastroDEST’ Interreg Europe project), including authentic experiences.
3. Digitalisation in Smart Tourism Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences (linked to the ‘Smart Tour’ Interreg Europe project)
4. 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.
5. Cultural Tourism Services for All, Visitors and Residents Alike (linked to the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism Topic 26), including authenticity and sustainable cultural tourism for the younger generation.
The applicants must address one of the above themes and present projects, initiatives, or activities that have been completed during the past 3 years. Award winners will be recognised as examples of excellence inspiring other tourist destinations and stimulating further development of resilient, smart, and sustainable cultural tourism initiatives.
Award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony to be held during the 18th International Conference for Cultural Tourism on the theme of “Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable, Smart, and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations‘’, organised by ECTN on 1-4 October 2025 in Sibiu, Romania.
The selected finalists will be invited to the ECTN Conference 2025 and the Awards Ceremony. The organiser and partners will not reimburse any costs for attending the Awards Ceremony, but the conference fee will be waived for up to two persons per finalist.
Who can apply?
The ECTN Awards are open to all tourist destinations across Europe, national, regional and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, museums, heritage sites, interpretation centres, cultural routes, festivals and cultural NGOs.
Find more information about the application process here
