Promotion of cultural tourism as a factor of development of the regions (Local and Regional Action Series No. 5) (2005)

The Council of Europe and especially the Congress have always been aware of the issues raised by tourism in general and by soft, educational and cultural tourism in particular.In view of the contribution tourism can make to the member states' economies, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has on several occasions issued guidelines for its promotion. It has drawn particular attention to the need to devise tourism policies that are geared to sustainable development and are environmentally friendly and consistent with the protection of historic and cultural heritage.Local and regional authorities have been asked to follow these guidelines, which they have endorsed and incorporated in their own policy approaches. In this report they address various aspects of the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism, particularly the establishment of cultural routes in Europe. The new member states of central and eastern Europe are the main focus here, with a view to their growing involvement in the pan- European networks of routes.