The European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), the only pan-European network that brings the cultural and tourism sectors to work together for sustainable cultural tourism development and promotion, welcomes the Culture Compass for Europe, launched by the European Commission as a Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. (COM(2025) 785 final, Brussels, 12.11.2025).

This important Communication acknowledges that Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries are key to boost innovation and competitiveness, create jobs, promote sustainable tourism, and make our regions and cities more attractive. It also highlights that culture generates important growth spillovers in other sectors, such as cultural tourism, which accounts for 40% of all European tourism. In promoting culture-led regional, territorial and local development, the Culture Compass recognises that cultural tourism also plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting Europe’s cultural heritage. Furthermore, the Communication from the Commission indicates that the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy will further promote sustainable cultural tourism as a catalyst for heritage protection, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness across Europe.

The Culture Compass identifies 20 flagship actions for the Commission to take, in cooperation with Member States and all relevant stakeholders. One of these actions is to launch a Euro-Med initiative for culture, sport and tourism in the context of the Pact for the Mediterranean. This is of particular interest and importance to ECTN members in southern Europe. ECTN would welcome an enlargement of this action to the whole of Europe (EU member states and accession candidate countries).

The Culture Compass aims to serve as the strategic anchor for culture within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2035.

The Draft Joint Declaration "Europe for Culture - Culture for Europe" that accompanies the Compass has an explicit commitment on cultural tourism:

“Advancing sustainable cultural tourism, respectful of cultural heritage, landscapes and community practices, and contributing to regional and local development.”

This is very much aligned with ECTN’s mission and vision and is fully adopted by ECTN members.
ECTN would thus be pleased to contribute to the success of the Culture Compass implementation in terms of synergies with sustainable cultural tourism development and promotion.

Responding to this important Communication, Manos Vougioukas, Secretary-General of ECTN stated: 

​“As the only pan-European network for cultural tourism with over 40 members in 21 countries, we very much welcome and endorse this awaited Culture Compass, given that it recognises and highlights the synergies of culture, heritage and sustainable tourism. We are grateful that ECTN has been consulted by Commissioner Glenn Micallef and we have submitted feedback and responded to the targeted survey, as a stakeholder. We are pleased to see explicit references on and commitment to sustainable cultural tourism in the Culture Compass. There is a lot more that can be done at all levels and ECTN is willing and ready to contribute accordingly”.
 
Communication

Draft Joint Declaration

Factsheet

​Working Paper