European Destinations of Excellence

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European Destinations of Excellence ( EDEN ) is a project of the European Commission to promote sustainable tourism models within the European Union .

The project is based on national competitions that have been held annually since 2006. In each of the participating countries, a travel destination - a Destination of Excellence - will be selected based on its outstanding commitment to social, cultural and ecological sustainability . The winners are up-and-coming, as yet relatively unknown European travel destinations based in the 27 member states , the EU candidate countries and the EFTA / EEA countries.

The goals of EDEN

Tourism is a strategic industry within the European Union , and its importance in the EU economy will steadily grow in the years to come. Tourism has great potential and makes a significant contribution to achieving goals within the EU, such as sustainable growth, economic growth, employment and economic and social cohesion . To achieve these goals, the European Commission launched the EDEN project. The short and long term goals of the EU can be summarized as follows:

  • To raise awareness of values, diversity and shared characteristics of European tourism destinations
  • Raise the visibility of emerging European tourism destinations of excellence, especially the lesser known ones
  • To create a platform to disseminate examples of “ good practices ” within Europe.
  • To convert the less known places in Europe to year-round successful locations and, conversely, to facilitate over-visited tourist destinations
  • The promotion of all European countries and regions
  • The promotion of networking between excellent destinations with the intention that further tourism destinations adapt the model of "sustainable tourism"

Selection process for EDEN travel destinations

Every year the European Commission publishes a call for proposals to help national tourism authorities (usually national ministries or other public bodies with the same tasks) in the Member States to participate in the project and to organize a national selection process. Candidate countries or EFTA / EEA member states can also apply. You are running under the same conditions and EDEN promotional activities as the Member States. Each country participating in the project carries out its own selection process in the first half of the year. First, an information campaign is organized to inform all potential candidates about the competition. The travel destinations that apply must demonstrate the development of economically viable tourism in accordance with the annual EDEN theme. The winners are destinations that best reflect the chosen annual theme and offer a unique tourism experience in terms of sustainable tourism. In the middle of the year, a travel destination in each participating country will be selected as an award winner on the basis of a number of criteria that are defined at both national and European level. The names of the winners will be communicated to the European Commission , which will host a European award ceremony.

The EDEN editions

Each EDEN issue deals with an annual topic, which is selected by the European Commission in cooperation with national tourism authorities. The theme serves as a common thread; so far, rural areas (2007), inviolable heritage (2008) and protected areas (2009) have been the central content. The theme for 2010 is water tourism. In 2011, EDEN will focus on tourism and the regeneration of physical areas. Each of these themes helps to highlight the assets of European regions while being linked to sustainable development; be it because of a cultural, economic or ecological point of view or through local involvement. The EDEN themes offer the opportunity to present the wealth of diversity in Europe. This includes natural resources, historical heritage, traditional festivals, local gastronomy, among others.

The list of travel destinations

2015 - tourism and local gastronomy

  • Mostviertel (Austria)
  • Waimes (Belgium)
  • Gornje Medimurje (Croatia)
  • Pitsilia Region (Cyprus)
  • Jesenice (Czech Republic)
  • Hiiumaa (Estonia)
  • Tournus and the Tournougeois (France)
  • Mecsek Greenway (Hungary)
  • Skagafjordur Food Chest (Iceland)
  • The Burren Food Trail (Ireland)
  • Guardiagrele , City of Taste, Italy
  • Latgale Region (Latvia)
  • Cake skewer in Jaskonys, Druskininkai Municipality (Lithuania)
  • Xaghra (Malta)
  • The Silesian Taste and Culinary Route (Poland)
  • Marginimea Sibiului (Romania)
  • Pirot (Serbia)
  • Brda (Slovenia)
  • Goierri, Basque Country (Spain)
  • Gaziantep (Turkey)

2013 - accessible tourism

  • Kaunertal (Austria)
  • Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)
  • Stancija 1904 - Svetvinčenat (Croatia)
  • Polis Chrysochous Municipality (Cyprus)
  • Haapsalu city (Estonia)
  • Morvan Region Natural Park (France)
  • Marathon Municipality (Greece)
  • Kaposvar and the Zselic area (Hungary)
  • Cavan City and Surroundings (Ireland)
  • Pistoia and Province (Italy)
  • Liepaja (Latvia)
  • Telsiai (Lithuania)
  • Horsterwold (Netherlands)
  • Przemysl (Poland)
  • Jurilovca (Romania)
  • Lasko (Slovenia)
  • Guara Natural Park (Spain)
  • Tarakli Municipality (Turkey)

2011 - tourism and regeneration of physical locations

  • City of Gmünd / Carinthia (Austria)
  • Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium)
  • Pustara Visnjica (Croatia)
  • Kalopanayiotis (Cyprus)
  • Slovacka (Czech Republic)
  • Lahemaa National Park Manors (Estonia)
  • Roubaix (France)
  • Municipality of Delphi (Greece)
  • Mecsek (Hungary)
  • Stykkisholmur Municipality (Iceland)
  • The Green Western Greenway, Co Mayo (Ireland)
  • Montececchio, Guspini municipality (Italy)
  • Ligante village (Latvia)
  • Rokiskis Manor (Lithuania)
  • Gharb (Malta)
  • Venhuizen (Netherlands)
  • Żyrardów (Poland)
  • Faial Natural Park (Portugal)
  • Alba Iulia (Romania)
  • Idrija (Slovenia)
  • Trasmiera Ecopark (Spain)
  • Hamamonu-Altindag, Ankara (Turkey)

2010 - water tourism

  • Seelentium (Austria)
  • The Lakes of Eau d'heure (Belgium)
  • Regional Administration Silistra (Bulgaria)
  • Nin (Croatia)
  • Kato Pyrgos (Cyprus)
  • Bystřicko (Czech Republic)
  • Lake Võrtsjärv (Estonia)
  • Saimaa Holiday (Finland)
  • The Grand Site du Marais Poitevin (France)
  • Peene Valley Adventure River Landscape (Germany)
  • Prefecture of Serres (Greece)
  • Lake Tisza (Hungary)
  • The Westfjords region (Iceland)
  • Loop Head Penisula in Co. Clare - Kilkee (Ireland)
  • Municipality of Monte Isola (Italy)
  • Sea Resort Jūrmala (Latvia)
  • Zarasai Region - Heavenly Shore on Earth (Lithuania)
  • The Nature Park of the Upper Sûre (Luxembourg)
  • Isla ( Senglea ) (Malta)
  • WaterReijk Weerribben Wieden - Giethoorn & the wetlands (Netherlands)
  • The Biebrza Valley and Wetlands - Wildlife Sanctuary (Poland)
  • Geoagiu Băi (Romania)
  • River Kolpa (Slovenia)
  • A Guarda (Spain)
  • Bitlis-Nemrut Crater Lake (Turkey)

2009 - Tourism and Protected Areas

  • Biosphere Park Grosses Walsertal (Austria)
  • Viroinval / Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park (Belgium)
  • Belitsa , Blagoevgrad region (Bulgaria)
  • Nacionalni park Sjeverni Velebit (Croatia)
  • Vouni Panagias (Cyprus)
  • Bohemian Switzerland (Czech Republic)
  • Soomaa National Park (Estonia)
  • Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park (France)
  • Petrified Forest of Lesvos (Greece)
  • Írottkő Nature Park (Hungary)
  • Sheep's Head peninsula (Ireland)
  • Marine Protected Area "Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre" (Italy)
  • Tervete Nature park (Latvia)
  • Nemunas Delta Regional Park - Unique Terrain of Harmony of Nature, Culture and Tourism (Lithuania)
  • Recreation area and nature reserve " Haff Réimech " (Commune of Schengen) (Luxembourg)
  • Mellieħa and the Hamlet of Manikata (Malta)
  • Park Gravenrode (Netherlands)
  • The Birds Republic in the Warta Mouth (Poland)
  • Apuseni Nature Park (Romania)
  • Solčavsko (Slovenia)
  • The Ebro Delta (Spain)
  • Kars - Kuyucuk Lake Wild Life Reserve (Turkey)

2008 - tourism and inviolable heritage

2007 - rural areas

EDEN in tourism and regeneration of physical areas

The 2011 EDEN Award focuses on the regeneration of physical areas. Destinations will be those that have reclaimed physical areas of their local heritage (such as industrial areas, transportation facilities, rural areas, and military sites) and converted them into tourist attractions to expedite local regeneration. In autumn 2011 the twenty-five target areas will be officially announced.

Web links