In the framework of the Luxembourg Chairmanship of the Council of the European Union, the European Institute of Cultural Routes is organising a round table on "Tourism along the Council of Europe Cultural Routes: finding strategies and synergies for European cultural tourism" on 16 September in the auditorium of the Luxembourg City History Museum (Musée d’Histoire de la Ville de Luxembourg), Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, from 4:30 to 5:45pm.
The round table will be an introduction to the European Tourism Forum which will be held on 17 and 18 September 2015 in Luxembourg.
Tourism is one of the essential pillars of the economies of many European countries, and is a constantly expanding sector even in times of crisis. The Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes promote thematic cultural, transnational and responsible tourism in the urban and rural areas they cross.
For cultural routes, tourism is also a tool for social integration and for mutual exchanges and encounters. This potential for sustainable cultural tourism development engages and encourages cooperation at the different levels involved, from local initiatives to national and European dimensions.
The cultural routes’ tourism strategies have to be truly pan-European: the cultures, history, tangible and intangible heritage around which they are constructed are all elements of a European language which serves to “interpret” Europe and encourage European citizens’ active participation.
- How do cultural routes serve as tools for integrated policies and laboratories for cooperation between different institutions?
- How is the relevance of institutional cooperation ensured at local levels?
- Which cultural tourism policies are the most suitable at different levels?
- What is the role of the European Institute of Cultural Routes and of the Luxembourg authorities in these policies?