Welcome by the Project Coordinator

 

Welcome to the CHARTS project website, the INTERREG IVC regional initiative that actively engages culture and heritage for sustainable tourism!

 

European regions have a wide range of rich culture, heritage and landscape assets which deserve particular protection, promotion and enhancement for developing cultural tourism and contributing to tourism sustainability, especially in relation to challenges of climate change and the economic crisis. The CHARTS project tackles the promotion, protection and preservation of cultural heritage sites and the environment through the introduction and promotion of sustainable tourism strategies, as well as “Responsible Tourism” initiatives.

 

CHARTS builds on experiences from previous INTERREG IIIC projects (ECTN and CultMark) and IIIB CADSES (CHIRON), with the objective to capitalise and apply relevant available results and current initiatives for policies and strategies in culture, heritage and sustainable tourism development. CHARTS is composed of 13 partners from 11 EU countries, working together and sharing experiences on how improved management of cultural tourism destinations contribute to tourism sustainability and the Lisbon & Gothenburg Agendas, by enhancing sustainable regional development policies. The main topics addressed are climate change, accessibility to heritage, effective partnerships, host communities, quality criteria, visitor information, place marketing, cultural routes, railway heritage, local products and gastronomy, traditional skills and bicycle use for sustainable mobility in cultural tourism destinations.

 

The ultimate aim of CHARTS is contributing to the formulation and delivery of added value to regional strategies for sustainable tourism development and promotion, through engaging culture and heritage, as well as integration into local, regional, national and EU policies.

 

I do hope that the CHARTS project will transfer good practices between the partner regions and produce valuable web based tools (best practice guides, vido clips, brochures, presentations) for use by destination authorities in developing their cultural tourism potential. CHARTS aspires to contribute to several EU initiatives (eg Charter on Sustainable & Responsible Tourism, European Heritage Label, Tourism Quality Systems, Cultural Routes). It is a great honour and a pleasure to be the coordinator of such a widespread and competent partnership, working together on a theme of strong European significance bringing together culture and tourism sectors.

 

Based in Volos, the ancient city of Iolkos, the CHARTS Management & Coordination Unit (MCU) is at the service of all project partners for a cultural journey like new Argonauts...

 

Manos Vougioukas

CHARTS Project Coordinator

Director CHARTS Management & Coordination Unit

Mayor of South Pelion Mr Nikolaos Fortounas, Secretary-General of Greek Regions Union Dr Apostolos Papatolias and CHARTS Project Coordinator Manos Vougioukas at the press conference following the 1st Steering Committee meeting in Argalasti, 23 March 2012