The Creative Tourism Network® (CTN) was honoured to participate as an official partner in the 19th Conference for Cultural Tourism in Europe, organised by the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) in Skiathos, Greece, from 23 to 26 September 2026.
Held under the theme “Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism,” the conference brought together tourism leaders, policymakers, researchers, destination managers, cultural organisations and heritage professionals from across Europe to exchange knowledge and explore new pathways towards more resilient, inclusive and sustainable tourism development.
Hosted in close cooperation with the Municipality of Skiathos, the four-day event highlighted the growing role of culture and heritage in sustainable territorial development. Discussions, presentations and technical visits addressed key issues including climate resilience, regenerative tourism, digitalisation, accessibility, cultural routes and community-based tourism.
CTN joined an outstanding network of European partners and contributors, including Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission (ETC), NECSTouR, Europeana, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the European Cyclists’ Federation, UN Tourism, and the European projects INSPIRES and Smart Tour.
Creative Tourism as a Driver of Regenerative Destination Development
A key focus of the conference was the growing recognition of creative tourism as a strategic approach to destination resilience and sustainability.
On 24 September, Caroline Couret, President of the Creative Tourism Network®, moderated the session “Creative Tourism and Co-Created Visitor Experiences,” one of the conference’s six thematic pillars. Bringing together tourism professionals, destination managers, academics and policymakers, the session explored how creative tourism can foster meaningful interactions between visitors and residents while generating social, cultural and economic value for local communities.
Presentations and discussions led by Maria Argyro Pelagidou (Greece), Nana Kartvelishvili (Georgia) and Prof. Eva Psatha (Greece) highlighted the role of creativity, cultural participation, co-creation and community engagement in enhancing visitor experiences and strengthening destination resilience.
The following day, Caroline Couret was invited to deliver a keynote presentation during the plenary session dedicated to initiatives and synergies for smart, resilient, sustainable and regenerative cultural tourism.
Her presentation, “Creative Tourism as a Catalyst for Sustainable and Regenerative Destination Development,” explored how co-creation, local know-how, skills transmission and authentic cultural participation can help destinations generate lasting value for communities while strengthening sustainability, resilience and social cohesion.
She also highlighted the evolution of creative tourism from an emerging niche into a broader destination development strategy—one that can help diversify tourism offers, support local creators and entrepreneurs, extend visitor stays, address seasonality and strengthen community engagement while safeguarding cultural identity.
Recognising Excellence in Creative Tourism
The conference also hosted the 2026 ECTN Awards for Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism.
As the partner supporting the “Creative Tourism and Co-Created Visitor Experiences” category, CTN contributed to highlighting initiatives that place creativity, local participation and authentic cultural exchange at the heart of tourism.
And the winners are …
1st Prize: Mziskari: Creative, Rural and Gastronomy Tourism by Georgian National Tourism Administration
2d Prize: City of Oulu, Finland / BusinessOulu
Special mention: Myrsini Village, Peloponnese, Greece
The awards showcased inspiring initiatives demonstrating innovative approaches to sustainable cultural tourism.
Strengthening European Cooperation for a Regenerative Future
CTN’s participation in the 19th ECTN Conference further strengthened its commitment to supporting destinations, institutions and tourism stakeholders in developing virtuous and replicable tourism models.
For the Creative Tourism Network®, the event reaffirmed the importance of placing people, culture, creativity and local communities at the centre of destination development—while fostering meaningful connections between visitors and residents.
CTN warmly congratulates the European Cultural Tourism Network, its Secretary-General Manos Vougioukas, and the entire organising team on the success of the conference. It also extends its sincere thanks to the Municipality of Skiathos and Mayor Thodoris Tzoumas for their generous hospitality and commitment to hosting this important European gathering.
The outstanding organisation, inspiring programme and warm welcome made the conference a memorable and productive experience, further strengthening the spirit of cooperation at the heart of European cultural tourism.
