Are Belgian rock festivals the best? On the opening night of the European music conference and festival Eurosonic in the Grand Theater of Groningen, the Netherlands, Belgian festivals were awarded first prize in four of eight categories in the “European Festival Awards”.
The Dour Festival won in the category “best medium-sized festival”; the Cactusfestival won the “best small festival” award, while the “best new European festival” award went to Openfields Festival. The “best line-up” award was given to Rock Werchter. Poland's “Heineken Open'er Festival” won the category “best major festival”. The “European Festival Awards” are an initiative of the British “Festival Awards Ltd.” and Yourope, the pan-European outdoor rock festivals' association.
As the selection of European Capitals of Culture for 2015 is approaching, the 2009 capital Vilnius eports that the goal of at least 15% growth for tourism was not achieved. As a matter of fact, a decrease of tourism of 15-20% is a cruel fact, attributed to the global crisis. It is not the first time that visitor numbers have failed to meet the goals of cultural capitals; also Dublin 91, Madrid 92, Luxembourg 95, and Prague 00 were lower-than-expected in tourists.
