ABOUT THE CREATIVE TOURISM NETWORK®
The Creative Tourism Network® is the official non‑profit organization dedicated to the development of creative tourism worldwide. Founded in 2010 with the support of the European Union, it rapidly expanded to become a global reference in the field.
The Creative Tourism Network® promotes and supports creative tourism internationally by connecting destinations, tourism professionals, cultural organizations, and creative industries. Its mission is to foster the development, visibility, and professionalization of creative tourism across diverse territories.
By cultivating a global ecosystem of creative tourism destinations and practitioners, the Creative Tourism Network® enhances both the quality and the viability of creative tourism models—generating enriching experiences for travelers and sustainable benefits for local communities of all kinds.
Its uniqueness lies in its exclusive focus on creative and cultural tourism, its worldwide reach, its commitment to sustainability and community empowerment, and its comprehensive support and certification programs. Together, these elements form a robust platform that strengthens the visibility, quality, and impact of creative tourism at an international scale.
Curious about what we do? … Please, have a look to some of our missions!
MISSIONS
Holistic creative tourism project management
Relying on the circular economy, the Creative Tourism Network® provides “tailored holistic projects” for destinations to create a value chain that positively impacts communities’ empowerment, intangible heritage recovery, seasonality, and other issues like climate change, for instance. Such a comprehensive approach includes assessment, planning, training, implementation, certification, and promotion of the local destinations’ DNA. Each project Read more.
Training: Academic & Lifelong learning and tailored workshops
Through the Creative Tourism Academy, the Creative Tourism Network® offers support and training for destinations, professionals, universities and schools, to develop and enhance their creative tourism offerings and destinations’ gouvernance. This can include academic and professional training, workshops, seminars, consulting services, and access to resources that help in creating and managing creative tourism experiences. They can be both produced by CTN or commissioned by other organizations. Read More.
Quality Certification
The Creative Tourism Network® provides the CreativeFriendlyDestination label for destinations that meet certain standards of quality and sustainability in creative tourism. This certification helps to establish trust and credibility in the process of co-creation, both for the destinations and for the tourists seeking authentic and high-quality creative experiences.
Networking and Collaboration
It provides a platform for stakeholders in the creative tourism sector to connect, share best practices, collaborate on projects, and develop synergies. This includes destinations, tourism professionals, cultural institutions, and local communities.
Promotion of Creative Tourism
The organization promotes creative tourism, which emphasizes immersive, interactive, and culturally enriching experiences for tourists. This can include art workshops, cooking classes, crafts, music, dance, and other cultural experiences that allow tourists to engage with the local culture actively.
Advocacy and Research
The organization advocates for the recognition and growth of creative tourism as a significant segment of the tourism industry. It also conducts and disseminates research on trends, impacts, and best practices in creative tourism to inform policy and practice. It collaborates with UN Tourism, UNESCO, UNOSSC, GIZ, as well as Banks and Ministries worldwide.
Events
The Creative Tourism Network® organizes and acts as a curator for events such as conferences, forums, and workshops to recognize and celebrate excellence in creative tourism. These events provide opportunities for learning, networking, and showcasing innovative creative tourism initiatives. Read more.
Awards
The Creative Tourism Awards and Creative Tourism Media Awards are organized by the Creative Tourism Network® (CTN) to recognize and celebrate excellence and innovation in creative tourism. These awards highlight destinations, projects, and professionals that demonstrate outstanding creativity, sustainability, and cultural engagement to develop unique and meaningful tourism experiences.
Resource Center
It acts as a resource center, offering information, case studies, and tools for stakeholders interested in developing creative tourism. This includes guidelines, marketing strategies, and insights into consumer behavior and preferences.
Sustainability and Community Empowerment
The organization emphasizes sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities economically, socially, and culturally. It supports initiatives that ensure fair compensation, respect for cultural heritage, and environmental responsibility.
VALUES
Independence
The Creative Tourism Network® is a non-profit organization whose main objective is the empowerment of communities, through the promotion of their know-how and creativity. The Creative Tourism Network® is economically independent and has no political or ideological affiliation.
Transparency
The Creative Tourism Network® is governed by an annual legal control system carried out by the public administration as well as by external audits. We provide legal documents upon request.
Adaptability
The Creative Tourism Network®’s empirical approach allows a rapid reactivity to the rapid creative tourism’s evolution, as well as its adaptability to all types of territories and contexts, be they villages, megacities, islands, or ski resorts.
Proximity – Empathy
Through its DNA based on human values, the Creative Tourism Network® acts as close as possible to populations and individuals around the world, while empowering them through training and mentoring, and by promoting them at a global level.
OUR ON-DEMAND SERVICES
In addition to the services offered to its members, the Creative Tourism Network® provides on‑demand expertise to a wide range of organizations, including UN Tourism, the UN Tourism Academy, UNESCO, UNOSSC, GIZ, CAF, BID, as well as ministries, local governments, universities, business schools, and many others.
Training – Mentoring
Whether you are a University or Business School, (future) entrepreneurs, DMOs or public bodies, interested in creative tourism management…
We propose tailored courses, lectures, seminars, workshops, training, capacity building, or consultancy services that fit your needs. Read more.
Consultancy
Whether your goal is to overcome challenges or to transform them into opportunities, or to strengthen specific assets of your destination, the Creative Tourism Network® is at your disposal to identify the most efficient, sustainable, and cost‑effective strategies through creative tourism.
Curatorship
We place at your disposal our extensive experience in designing and delivering events on creative tourism, the creative economy, and sustainable tourism. Our curatorship ensures that each initiative is unique, memorable, and results‑driven. Formats may include keynote lectures, hands‑on workshops, project pitches, award ceremonies, press conferences, fam trips, and more.