NECSTouR Welcomes Sustainability as the Key-priority of the Finnish Presidency to the EU

NECSTouR congratulates the Finnish Government for having chosen to focus its semester of Presidency of the Council of the European Union - from July until December 2019 - around the slogan "Sustainable Europe, Sustainable Future".

The priorities for Finland’s Presidency are

• to strengthen common values and the rule of law
• to make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive
• to strengthen the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action
• to protect the security of citizens comprehensively 

Matching NECSTouR Pillars. Such priorities - and in particular Sustainability, Competitiveness and Security - match with the  five pillars of the NECSTouR interregional strategy 2019-2021, the so called “NECSTouR Five “S” of the Sustainable Tourism of Tomorrow”: Smart destinations, Socio-cultural balance, Skills and talent, Safety and security and Statistics.

Priorities on Tourism. The first meeting of the new Commission on Transports and Tourism (TRAN) at the European Parliament last 27th of July has been th eopportunity for the Finnish Minister for Economic Affairs responsible for tourism, Mrs Katri Kulmuni, to present the priorities of the Finnish Presidency on tourism to the newly elected members of this commission:

• Sustainability. The main goal is to enhance the digitalisation of tourism sector and especially how it can support a sustainable development for the tourism sector. Additionally, eco growth will also be encouraged, towards a low-carbon and socially and environmentally sustainable Europe.
• Competitiveness. The Finnish Presidency see tourism as a key-sector to met the expectations of the EU citizens towards an overall economic growth and new jobs creation.
• Digitalisation. In order to enhance the digitalisation of the tourism sector and to maximise the opportunities of digitalisation for travellers and business, three key areas have been identified:

1. Effective data management
2. Presence of tourism in digital networks
3. Digital competencies and skills for SMEs

European Tourism Forum. Moreover, NECSTouR is looking forward to contribute to the debate around such priorities on the occasion of the European Tourism Forum, to be held in Helsinki on the 9th and 10th of October 2019. This year's edition will be focused on digital transformation, innovation and data management.

Offset Air Travel Emissions. NECSTouR supports also the decision of the Finnish Government to offset emissions from air travel during the Presidency of the Council of the EU, as a concrete committment towards a greener and more sustainable Europe.

NECSTouR wishes all the best to the Finnish Government for this semester and is ready to strength its cooperation with its members by the Lapland University of Applied Sciences, the Finnish Regions and the Finnish Government, in order to further develop the European Tourism Policy!