The key role that historic thermal towns should play in the construction of a European tourism destination committed with sustainable development, culture and well being will be discussed at the European Parliament in Strasbourg next 15th September. The European Association of Historic Thermal Towns is organizing a presentation hosted by MEP Millán Mon, co-chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on European tourism development, cultural heritage and the Way of St James and other Cultural Routes, and MEP Silvia Costa, President of the European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education.
The presentation will increase the visibility of an international network which has been working for understanding and safeguarding of European thermal heritage for almost seven years, and will be open to Members of EU Parliament, tourism stakeholders, researchers and journalists, as well as delegations from the EHTTA member cities. Representatives from the Council of Europe and the European Institute of Cultural Routes will also take part, supporting a network which in 2010 was certified as Cultural Route by the Council of Europe.
At the event, EHTTA will showcase the very first pilot of the Thermal Atlas project, an ambitious initiative for the study and dissemination of the Thermal Heritage of Europe. Lead by this association and developed by its Scientific Committee, the Thermal Atlas aims to become the most complete resource on thermalism in Europe, building an essential database on the natural, cultural and intangible resources that have made of thermal towns key actors in the history and identity of Europe, places devoted to well-being, health, culture, art and landscape.