Programme

10:00

Session 1: Setting the scene – Establishing the Cultural Route

 Opening address by Central Macedonia Region, Greece (Cult-RInG lead partner)- Alexandros Thanos, Vice-Governor for Tourism, Cult-RInG Interreg Europe lead partner, Greece

 Address by the Greek Prime Minister’s office in Thessaloniki - Mrs Antoniou, Greece (tbc)

 Address by Council of Europe EPA, EICR (tbc)

 Address by Lazio Region, Italy

 Address by Pafos Regional Board of Tourism – Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, Executive Manager, Cyprus

 Address by European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) – Raitis Sijats, ECTN President, VTA, Latvia

 Address by the Ministry of Culture, Greece (tbc)

 Religious sites and sustainable tourism in the Region of Central Macedonia- Greece: challenges and perspectives” - Assoc. Prof Christos N. Tsironis, Faculty of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

 Application for certification as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe – Manos Vougioukas ECTN Secretary-General, Greece

11:30 Break

11:45

Session 2: Synergies with other Cultural Routes and the way forward

 Via Francigena: “the Road to Rome 2021" by the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways EAVF - Elena Dubinina, international relations advisor, Italy

 St Olav Ways - Hans Morten Løvrød, Head of National Pilgrim Center and Route Manager, Norway

 Via Regia: the benefits from the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe - Karline Fischer, Project Manager, Germany

 Experience of other religious and pilgrimage Cultural Routes:

    o St James Way (invited)

    o St Martin of the Tours (invited)

 Religious and pilgrimage routes – Actions in Cult-RInG partner destinations

    o St Olav Ways in West Sweden – Marie Fors (video)

    o St James Way in North Portugal, by CIM Alto Minho (video)

 EGTC Activities plan for the next 3 years – Manos Vougioukas, ECTN Secretary-General, Greece

 Discussion

 Conclusions and next steps


13:00 End