The Creative Tourism Network® (CTN) is launching a unique global call inviting destinations of all kinds worldwide to apply for the CreativeFriendlyDestination® label through a newly streamlined annual application formula. The selected destinations will be announced at the end of September to celebrate the Month of Tourism.
- Creative Tourism as a Regenerative and Virtuous Model
Creative tourism is increasingly recognized as a regenerative and virtuous tourism model, capable of generating long‑term value for both communities and visitors. By fostering empowerment, strengthening local creative economies, and supporting the recovery of intangible heritage, it contributes to social cohesion and cultural resilience. Creative tourism also helps reduce seasonality by diversifying experiences throughout the year, while encouraging low‑impact, community‑based practices that support climate adaptation and sustainable territorial development.
This call is open to destinations of all kinds — from small villages to major metropolises, from rural and urban areas to islands, from Creative Cities to mountain regions and emerging territories.
The CreativeFriendlyDestination® label has been designed to reflect the diversity of global tourism landscapes, ensuring that each territory, regardless of its scale or resources, can leverage its creative identity and community assets to develop a distinctive and sustainable tourism model.
Today, around thirty CreativeFriendly destinations are part of the network, including the city of Cannes, Barcelona, Salvador de Bahia, New Orleans, the Charentes region (France), the Magdalen Islands (Quebec), and Baguio (Philippines) — illustrating the richness and diversity of territories engaged in creative tourism development.
- About this CALL
With this new application formula, the CTN aims to make the CreativeFriendlyDestination® label more accessible than ever, empowering territories to unlock their creative potential and position themselves on the international stage.
This new mechanism has been created to make the process faster, clearer, and more accessible, enabling destinations to plan and implement their creative tourism strategies with greater agility and confidence. The deadline for submissions is September 15th, but all applications will now be evaluated within six days of reception. Selected destinations may proceed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and benefit from immediate international press campaign highlighting their commitment to creative, sustainable, and community‑centered tourism.
- About the CreativeFriendlyDestination Label:
- Empowering Destinations :
The CreativeFriendlyDestination® label highlights destinations offering authentic, participatory, and community‑based experiences, fostering:
- activation of local creative ecosystems
- valorization of intangible heritage
- empowerment of communities and creative entrepreneurs
- diversification of tourism offerings
- positive impacts on seasonality, climate adaptation, and local development.
- Benefits of Becoming a CreativeFriendlyDestination®:
This agile process enables destinations to use their membership strategically to:
- support funding applications
- strengthen project proposals
- plan and develop creative tourism programs with guidance from CTN’s Board of Experts
- Becoming a CreativeFriendlyDestination® provides access to:
- international visibility
- tailor‑made advisory services
- training and mentoring for local stakeholders
- event curation and co‑creation opportunities
- international promotion through press campaigns, conferences, and partnerships
- integration into a global community of pioneering destinations
- host a creative tourism event
- A membership designed to foster diversity and maximize impact:
The structure reflects the diversity of the territories and the breadth of the services offered. Many services can be integrated into international cooperation programs (EU, UNESCO, AECID, GIZ, JICA, IDB, CAF, World Bank).
The Creative Tourism Network®:
a Global Commitment to Sustainable &
Creative Development:
Recognized as the unique and official global organization dedicated to creative tourism, the Creative Tourism Network® has been shaping the sector since its creation in 2010. Over the past decade, CTN has led hundreds of conferences, trainings, and expert missions worldwide, collaborating with major international bodies such as UN Tourism, UNESCO, UNOSSC, GIZ, as well as numerous ministries and national tourism boards.
Its pioneering work has positioned CTN as the global reference for creative, sustainable, and community‑centered tourism models, supporting destinations in unlocking their creative potential and achieving international recognition.
The Creative Tourism Network® remains committed to supporting destinations worldwide in building authentic, sustainable, and community‑centered creative tourism ecosystems.
