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Benjamin Zix Square in Strasbourg

Submissions for the ‘European Destination of Excellence’ are now open

Submissions for the ‘European Destination of Excellence’ are now open

Small-town Europe will compete for the most sustainable tourism offer of 2023

Yesterday, the European Commission launched the European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) initiative aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in smaller destinations. The initiative’s goal is to promote smaller municipalities and their achievements in green tourism as part of the EU’s energy transition and climate change plan.

After months of careful deliberation, EDEN authorities will announce the winning destination for 2023, showcasing it as an example of sustainable tourism which can be emulated across the continent.

The first winner, from among 50 other candidates, was the small Danish town of Middelfart. It won the prize in 2021 making it the incumbent titleholder.

The small and smaller destinations

The submissions process is now open to all cities from all EU countries, as well as non-EU countries, part of the COSME programme. At the same time, cities must have a population between 25,000 and 100,000, although, in smaller countries with a population of less than 1 million, destinations with a population over 5,000 people can also apply.

After the submissions process closes on 1 June, all candidate cities will be evaluated by a panel of independent sustainability experts, who will let only three candidacies advance. These three candidacies will come into the second stage of selection, where they will have to present their bid for the title to a European jury, which will announce the results in November.

The winning destination will be featured as a pioneer in sustainable tourism and a champion of the EU’s green policy agenda. Local authorities will also receive expert help in branding the town as an attractive tourism destination on an EU level in 2023.

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