Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2024

European Collaboration for Smart and Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destinations

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.

Closing date is 1st of June 2024.

The submission and management of entries is fully digital using the AwardStage platform:

https://culturaltourism.awardstage.com

The Awards categories this year are:

1. Accessibility to Heritage, both physical and intellectual, as a component of Smart Tourism and Smart Destinations, at museums, cultural and heritage sites; Accessible Cultural Tourism (in partnership with ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism).  NEW
2. Intangible Heritage, including Festivals, performing arts, music, dance, theatre, opera, visual arts, handicrafts, traditional trades, for Sustainable Cultural Tourism. 
3. Digitalisation advances and digital transition in Smart and Sustainable Cultural Tourism, Smart Tourism and Smart Destinations initiatives closely involving culture and heritage, enhancing the visitor experience, including AI, VR/AR, big data, gamification, Metaverse.
4. Transnational Thematic Tourism Products, on culture and heritage, including those related to European Cultural Routes, European Heritage Label networks and/or cross-border cultural tourism initiatives (involving at least two European countries, not necessarily neighbouring).
5. Coastal and Maritime Heritage for Sustainable Cultural Tourism, including underwater heritage, maritime museums, historic ships, shipwrecks, old ports, equipment, lighthouses, traditional boat and repair yards, as well as maritime cultural landscapes. 

For the 7th year running (since 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage), the ECTN Awards are in partnership with Europa Nostra, European Travel Commission (ETC) and NECStouR. This year we have also secured the support of ENAT-European Network for Accessible Tourism for the specific new category 1 on Accessibility.

The 2024 Awards are also in the framework of Dublin 2024 European Capital of Smart Tourism, the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) regarding Tourism.