This is the Executive Summary of 'Approaches to carrying capacity and visitor management in areas of cultural heritage in Europe', a final report to the Tourism Unit, DGXXIII, of the Commission of the European Communities. It brings together the findings of studies carried out jointly by Oxford Brookes University, UK, the University of Venice, Italy and Shankland Cox Environmental Planning, UK and focuses on approaches to carrying capacity and visitor management in small and medium-sized towns and cities in Europe.