Circular cultural tourism in BeCULTOUR project defines a sustainable and regenerative cultural tourism model that aims to foster sustainable and equitable regional development implementing a “human-centred” circular economy model through the enhancement of abandoned, underused and less-known cultural and natural resources, enhancement of human capital and human rights, reduction of tourism pressure on over-exploited territories, reduction of wastes and natural resources consumption (energy, water, soil, biodiversity), increase of clean energy and green transport means, recycling and reuse of materials and products, and enhancement of locally based food and craft productions – finally empowering local communities, enhancing ecosystems, enhancing local identity, wellbeing, health and cultural diversity, and enhancing local entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems through cultural tourism.

Call for tender: design and develop a branding strategy for circular cultural tourism destinations in the pilot heritage sites

In the context of the Be.CULTOUR project, ERRIN is opening a call for tender for a contractor to undertake the design and development of strategies for the branding and marketing of circular cultural tourism destinations in the pilot heritage sites in collaboration with local stakeholders and in line with the innovation activities carried out by the heritage co-innovation networks established. 

Cultural synergies: an event with the Culture and Cultural Heritage Partnership of the EU Urban Agenda

On 23 November 2021 the Be.CULTOUR project hosted an event on "cultural synergies" in collaboration with “The Culture and Cultural Heritage Partnership of the EU Urban Agenda”. The webinar explored the similarities between the two initiatives, enhancing the common interest and advantages for local communities and how they can benefit from valorising heritage and culture. The event's main objective was to identify synergies and discuss future collaborations.

Introducing our Be.CULTOUR Pilot Heritage Sites

Six European regions are on a common journey of regional development through circular cultural tourism: Aragon, Spain; Basilicata, Italy; Larnaca, Cyprus; Västra Götaland, Sweden; Vojvodina, Serbia; and Romania-Moldova, Cross-Border Region. In an exciting series of in-person and online workshops, these Be.CULTOUR Pilot Heritage Sites are engaging with each other and their local communities to develop bottom-up Action Plans with human-centred solutions for sustainable cultural tourism.

An Ode to the Sticky Note

Colourful sticky notes jumbled on a page… - do you know these pink-green-yellow patterns illustrating brainstorming? Six Be.CULTOUR PHS are right now intensively involved in the process of designing solutions related to circular cultural tourism. Sticky notes circulate in different directions, bringing ideas, comments and documenting the work of the local communities.

Towards a human-centred and circular tourism: Introducing the Be.CULTOUR project

“Beyond CULtural TOURism: heritage innovation networks as drivers of Europeanisation towards a human-centred and circular tourism economy” is an Horizon 2020-funded project contributing to innovative approaches towards urban and regional development through cultural tourism. Far from the consumer-oriented cultural tourism approach, the Be.CULTOUR project focuses on the “place” as the genius loci, the ancient spirit of the site, and the “people” as co-creators of its uniqueness, culture, art, tradition, folklore, productivity and spirituality. The project  develops specific strategies promoting  models of cultural tourism that put humans and circular economy at the centre, paying attention to nature, communities and cultural diversity.

Be.CULTOUR meets the Circular Cultural Tourism best practices

During the 7th MeetUp of the H2020 Be.CULTOUR project held the 28th January 2022, three case studies on the circular approach in cultural tourism have been presented to the Community of the project. In particular, Vanessa Glindmeier, Responsible Tourism Coordinator of the Historic Environment Scotland presented the case of Doune Castle, an example of circular cultural tourism; Nancy Duxbury from the Centre for Social Studies - University of Coimbra showed the CREATOUR Project related to creative tourism; and Jordi Mallarach Parés, Future for Religious Heritage Executive officer, exposed examples of adaptive reuse through cultural tourism practices from the European Religious Heritage network.