Within the framework of the Wester Silk Road Tourism Development Initiative, UNWTO led in the creation of Western Silk Road Working Groups (WG-WSR).

The WG-WSR functioned as collaborative platforms, and play a crucial role in gathering research input on Western Silk Road heritage available throughout Europe.

About the ‘Enhancing the Understanding of European Tourism’ Project

‘Enhancing the Understanding of European Tourism’ is a joint project by UNWTO and the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission (DG GROW). The project aims to improve the socio-economic knowledge of the tourism sector: enhance the understanding of European tourism and contribute towards economic growth, job creation, and thus improving the competitiveness of the sector in Europe. The project includes three components: 1) increased cooperation and capacity building in tourism statistics; 2) assessment of tourism market trends; 3) promotion of cultural tourism through the Western Silk Road and; 4) promoting sustainable, responsible, accessible and ethical tourism.

The project is co-financed with the European Union’s COSME Programme (2014-2020) funds and will run until February 2018.