UNWTO, Council of Europe to enhance Cultural Routes, promote accessibility

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Council of Europe have announced plans to develop the opportunities tourism offers to local communities and to enhance the tourist experience along the Europe's Cultural Routes.

The initiative aims to highlight the added value that cultural routes offer for sustainable tourism development, cultural heritage safeguarding and intercultural dialogue. 

The collaboration will also further highlight the routes’ potential for advancing social, economic and cultural development, benefitting both Europe and its partner countries by strengthening cultural and historical ties.

The two organizations will be collaborating first in creative tourism, to showcase good practices in line with the International Year of Creative Economy 2021, and further promote destinations encompassed by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA) of the Council of Europe.

All along the Cultural Routes, tourism has the power to support jobs and create other development opportunities for communities. It is also a chance to protect and promote cultural heritage and to celebrate creativity," said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Enhancing accessibility

The partnership will also see UNWTO and the Council of Europe harness their expertise and technical capabilities to further develop Cultural Routes, through research, training and policymaking.

Special attention will be paid to the mapping of Cultural Routes and to promoting greater accessibility for persons with disabilities and specific access requirements.