The conference opened on Wednesday 6 July under the chairmanship of Mr Paul Loveluck CBE, President of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales.
Opening speakers included Mr Andrew Davies AM, Welsh Assembly Minister for Economic Development and Transport, Mr Paolo Linty of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, Italy and Mr Geraint Talfan Davies, chairman of the Arts Council for Wales (click here for a copy of his speech).

Dr Wolfgang Ebert, of Dortmund spoke about European Routes of Industrial Heritage, Mr Greg Richards of Tourism Research and Marketing (Barcelona) examined cultural tourism trends in Europe in the light of evidence from ATLAS research between 1997 and 2004, and Ms Tessa Jackson of Artes Mundi talked about creative cultural tourism.

Mr Andrew Davies AM set the conference in the context of the Welsh Assembly Government’s aims to raise the profile of Wales internationally and the role Cardiff has as a European capital celebrating its centenary year as a city. Outlining the importance of cultural topics in the wider field of tourism that is such a significant contributor to the Welsh economy.

The afternoon of 6 July was taken up with parallel workshops on heritage tourism and creative cultural tourism.

On Wednesday evening delegates attended a drinks reception at the Wales Millennium Centre hosted by Mr Alan Pugh AM, Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport.

Delegates had the chance to experience the cultural tourism product of South East Wales at first hand on day two of the conference. On Thursday morning delegates were offered visit options to a choice of four destinations in Cardiff. The afternoon took delegates on an excursion the World Heritage Site at Blaenavon, taking in Big Pit and Booktown as well as its place in the history of iron making.

In the evening delegates attended a drinks reception and gala dinner at the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff. Pre-dinner speeches were provided by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff; Michael Houlihan - Director General of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales and Jonathan Jones - Chief Executive of the Wales Tourist Board. Catrin Finch (former Royal Harpist) commenced the post dinner entertainment playing her electric harp, followed by Rhian Mair Lewis, Elin Lwyd, Tara Bethan, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Owain Rhys Davies accompanied by Bryan Davies with a contemporary performance of traditional Welsh song and dance.

Friday morning’s plenary session chaired by Jonathan Jones of the Wales Tourist Board involved speeches from Lars Nordstrom from Vastra Gotland, Sweden and Myles Pepper from Artswave Wales. After summing up and discussions from the workshop groups, the closing address was given by First Minister for Wales, Mr Rhodri Morgan AM.

It was agreed that a declaration from the conference should be drawn up and circulated in draft form to conference delegates for comment before forwarding it to the European Commission.