The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Annual Advisory Forum 2019 “Cultural Routes for Cultural Tourism" will take place on 2-4 October in Sibiu (Romania).

Organised by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Romania the Forum will address the role of the Cultural Routes in capitalising the potential for cultural tourism so to foster European heritage and traditions, as well as encourage innovation and creativity in the cultural sector in favour of the tourist experience.

On Tuesday 10 September, the Minister of Tourism of Romania Bogdan TRIF held a press conference in Sibiu to present the 9th Annual Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes. “The Forum is a great opportunity for the people of Sibiu to promote their city and show Europe how many important cultural tourist attractions are found in its region”, said the Minister.

The Annual Advisory Forum will be the occasion “to discuss challenges and opportunities for the expansion of cultural tourism and the vital role that the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe can play in its wider development” said Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the EPA. The Forum will pay particular attention to building partnerships for a successful and sustainable development of pan-European Cultural Routes networks in the context of local, regional, national and transnational tourist markets.

The 2019 edition of the Advisory Forum will be attended by representatives of the 47 member States of the Council of Europe, representatives from the 38 certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe and candidate Cultural Routes, International Organisations, such as EU, UNESCO, UNWTO, ETC, BSEC, OEI, local and regional authorities, along with academics and experts from the culture and tourism industry. Accession ceremonies for new EPA member States, Certification ceremonies for the 5 newly certified Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe as well as Best Practices Awards for Cultural Routes will be among the Forum events. New Cultural Routes projects will also be presented during the Forum.

Mrs Steliana COJOCARIU, Senior Counsellor of the Ministry of Tourism of Romania and EPA Bureau Member is the national Forum coordinator.

Further information and the draft programme of the 9th Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum 2019 are available here.