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 European tourist destinations to showcase their achievements and contributions to sustainable cultural tourism across five categories.
The winners were revealed at an Awards ceremony in beautiful Dublin, a vibrant and historic city known for its rich cultural heritage.
See the complete list of winners below.
Public vote – winner:
A Transient Legacy – Digitalisation 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
- 1st 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
- 1st prize:
Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula Cultural Calendar of Events
By Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance, Ireland
- 2nd prize:
Liget Budapest, in the City Park of Budapest
By Városliget Corp, Visitor and Event Management Group, Hungary
- 3rd prize:
The International Youth Art Festival “Kaleidoscope”
By the 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
- 1st prize:
Digital Spotlight Heritage Timisoara
By Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
- 2nd prize:
Mysteries of submerged villages
By Šaleška Valley Tourist Board, Slovenia
- 3rd prize:
Innovative Raudondvaris: Harmonizing Digital Experiences and Cultural Heritage
By Raudondvaris Manor, Lithuania
TRANSNATIONAL THEMATIC TOURISM PRODUCTS ON CULTURE AND HERITAGE
- 1st prize:
Camino Portugues Coastal Hiking Route
By Follow the Camino, Ireland
Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Portugal and Galicia, Spain
- 2nd prize:
A transient legacy – digitalisation of the Silesian regional mining heritage
By Coal Mining Museum at Zabrze, Poland
with ERIH (European Route of Industrial Heritage) Anchor Point
- 3rd prize:
Digital nomads in central Istria
By Tourist board of central Istria, Croatia
COASTAL AND MARITIME HERITAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE CULTURAL TOURISM
- 1st prize:
CLARE: A Coast, a Car, an Audio Guide, at West Coast of County Clare (Wild Atlantic Way)
By Cultural Roadmap, Republic of Ireland
- 2nd 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