Europe
is indeed a key cultural tourism destination, with a large number of
major sites and a strong flow of international and domestic visitors.
It is estimated that cultural tourism accounts for around 40% of all
European tourism.
Tourists are more and more looking for true
experiences, for meeting and getting to know other people and other
cultures. Tourism policies will need to adapt to these trends and
develop a quality offer promoting local cultures and traditions and
paying attention to sustainable aspects: preservation of the
heritage, of the landscape, of the local culture.
Transnational cultural tourism products represent
common European shared values and heritage. They contribute to
present and promote Europe as a "unique tourism destination".
Therefore the European Commission is implementing a number of
activities to support transnational tourism products based on
specific themes which still have great potential for growth.
European cultural routes
"European Cultural Routes" crossing
several regions or countries are a good starting point to promote the
variety and complexity of European cultural tourism offer.
Cultural routes have a strong tourism potential,
still mostly unexplored.
They are both transnational and representative of European common heritage and values.
They are also regarded as being a sustainable, ethical and social model, because they build on local knowledge, skills and heritage assets, they often promote lesser known European destinations.
They are both transnational and representative of European common heritage and values.
They are also regarded as being a sustainable, ethical and social model, because they build on local knowledge, skills and heritage assets, they often promote lesser known European destinations.
Moreover, 90% of their trails are in rural areas.
Active cooperation with the Council
of Europe, the European
Travel Commission, UN
World Tourism Organisation and other international partners is
contributing to further develop Pan-European Thematic Tourism Routes.
At the time being there are 26
trans-national itineraries connecting several cities, villages,
rural communities across the continent and representing Europe as a
single tourism destination.
A study
launched by the European Commission and the Council of Europe has
assessed the impact that the promotion of cultural routes has on
small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector.