From 30 May to 1st June 2017, the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Training Academy was hosted by the Municipality of Alba Iulia (Romania), in partnership with the National Museum of Unification and the 1 Decembrie 1918 University. Parallel workshops were held around the subject "Development of sustainable tourism products along the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe”.

The event, co-organised by the European Institute of Cultural Routes (EICR) TRANSROMANICA - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe and the Municipality of Alba Iulia, was opened by Mr Gabriel PLESA (Vice Mayor, Alba Iulia Municipality), Mr Alfredas Jomantas (Chair of the Governing board of the EPA on Cultural Routes and member of the Governing Board of the European Institute of Cultural Routes), Ms Steliana COJOCARIU (Counsellor, Ministry of Tourism of Romania) and Mr Lars-Jörn ZIMMER (President of TRANSROMANICA).

As the Cultural Routes are a source for the local communities’ cultural, social and economic development, the training seminars explored their role as tools for promoting cultural tourism that fits with sustainable development. Tourism product were develop during the three days, with the view to be presented during the Annual Forum - 30th anniversary of the Cultural Routes programme (27-29 september, Lucca, Italy), where the certified Cultural Routes will have the opportunity to meet with tourism professionals during a B2B event.

The 2017 Training Academy was also the opportunity to experience Alba Iulia as a crossroads of two Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe: TRANSROMANICA - The Romanesque Routes of European Heritage & The Roman Emperors and Danube Wine Route.