Budget: 311.000 €
Duration: 18 months (2015-2017)
Project Management: Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) - Council of Europe, Luxembourg


The Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes has developed strong cooperation with the European Parliament and the European Commission since 2010. The Council of Europe and the Tourism Unit of the European Commission’s Directorate General Enterprise and Industry have pursued productive synergies which has led to 4 cooperation agreements, Joint Management Programmes, on cultural routes and has stimulated the implementation of action which has enabled cultural routes to organise their work more productively and professionally.

The overall objective of the 4th Joint Programme was to increase Europe’s visibility as a tourist destination as well as of its diverse destinations. Its specific objective was to contribute to the touristic visibility and quality of Cultural Routes certified by the Council of Europe or preparing for certification.

Through the varied range of activities implemented during this Joint Management Programme, the joint work of the Council of Europe and the European Commission was highlighted at the international level among a diverse audience of academics, culture and tourism professionals, institutions and stakeholders, reaching international tourists.

New partnerships were developed, both at the European and international level. The Cultural Routes were presented during numerous meetings and events in the tourism and cultural sectors and co-operation agreements with international tourism institutions were signed.

The quality of the Cultural Routes was enhanced through the creation of new management and communication tools and the organisation of specific trainings for Cultural Routes managers, aiming at improving their fundraising, promotion and marketing skills.


Visibility

  • A leaflet presenting the programme of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe was prepared in 7 linguistic versions (English | French | German | Italian | Lithuanian | Russian | Spanish ).
  • A brochure presenting and describing in detail each certified Cultural Route was design in 2 linguistic versions (English | French)
  • A visual identity (notebook and folder) presents the Cultural Routes concept of travelling through space and time.
  • New video-spot presenting the programme (English | French)
  • Interviews realised at the European Parliament in Brussels on 26 April 2016. Video available HERE.
  • Digital Campaign – Online Competitions were organised between September 2016 and January 2017 to reinforce the online visibility of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe

Bloggers' Trip

The 2016 Bloggers trip took place during 5 days, on 25-30 August, and promoted two Cultural Routes (Transromanica and the Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route) in the Easter-Europe region (Austria, Slovenia, Serbia). More info HERE.

Trainings

Two training courses were implemented under the Joint Programme to support Cultural Routes professionals by improving their management competencies in their respective tourism oriented actions.

European Tourism Indicators System (ETIS)

The EU European Tourism Indicators System (ETIS) was applied to the Cultural Routes, providing a means to developing measures of their tourism impact on the territories involved. Study report available HERE.

@CultureRoutes