Calypso Workshop 2011
14-15/06 2011- Vuokatti (Fi)
The first Calypso Workshop of 2011 was held in collaboration with Kainuu Region, the European Commission and Able Access for All Exchange (AAAE), one of the projects awarded by Calypso co-financing. Finnish and European associations, stakeholders and Member States directly or indirectly involved in social tourism issues attended this event such as the International Social Tourism Organisation.
During the workshop, Tuscany Region, which represents NECSTouR in Calypso, called for the widespread use of the indicators to measure phenomena related to tourism and for the evaluation of projects designed to guide local choices for a sustainable and competitive tourism.
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Instruments for developing quality tourism
15/06/2011 Palermo (IT)
Organised by the Sicily Region and the Sicilian organisation for sustainable tourism in protected areas, the conference focused on European Case studies to develop quality tourism by valorizing the natural and cultural heritage of the destinations. In this respect the Valais Region has been invited to represent NECSTouR as a European Tool to valorize the actions of the Regions in Europe but also to present the Valais case study on the regional quality Brand. The Conference tackled also the advantages and challenges of eco-certification.
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Local Administration Facility - Study Tour on Tourism
21-23/06/2011-Brussels (BE)
In order to raise awareness about the institutional and para institutional functioning of the European Union for the new Members and the neighbouring country, the DG Enlargement of the European Commission, has started a new project, called Local Administration Facility - LAF, which will first focus on the local and regional authorities of the Western Balkans. The Facility will be run in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions. Tourism was the theme of this study tour between the 21st and 23rd of June. NECSTouR has been invited, together with representatives of the EC, CoR, EP and other European networks to present its activities to the participants. In this respect Cornwall presented the added value of connecting the work at regional level with the European level through networks, and NECSTouR Permanent Secretariat explained the functioning of the network and the added value of European Cooperation. The participants were actively asking questions, creating a positive dynaic of debates.
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EUROPEAN MARCH ACROSS CULTURAL ROUTES
28-29/06 2011-Brussels (BE)
The Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Parliament organised a major event on Cultural Routes in the European Parliament in order to present the major results of the Study on the impact of cultural routes on the territorial development. After the presentation of the outcomes of the study, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Antonio Tajani stressed the necessity to reinforce professionalization through the creation of specialized masters and innovative communication tools. Cristina Scaletti, Regional Minister for Tourism of Tuscany Region and president of NECSTouR, underlined the importance of strengthen cooperation between Culture and Tourism to assure the quality of the route and the cooperation between regional authorities to ensure the sustainability of the project. All Representatives of EU Member States, Regional authorities and European Institutions agreed to point out the fact that Cultural routes represent a key element for territorial economic growth if there is a strong political support.
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You can download the programme of the conference at the bottom of this page.
Tourism: A challenge shared by the Capital cities and Metropolitan areas?
28-29/06 2011-Brussels (BE)
Following the launch of the informal European network of Tourism Capital cities and Metropolitan areas on the 28th of June in Brussels, Ile de France Europe and its Tourism Board, co-organised with the European Commission a European political event at the headquarter of the OECD on the 29th in Paris. The issues of tourism governance and the necessity to develop Public Private Partnership and networking initiatives have been particularly addressed during this conference. Invited to represent NECSTouR in this conference, Claire Sovignet, from the ACFCI underlined the necessity to adhere to European networks such as NECSTouR to develop cooperation and partnerships, which are of paramount interest for building strong European projects. In its conclusive remarks, the President of Ile de France Tourism Board has reasserted its support to Regional networks such as NECSTouR. The increasing recognition of the role of the Regions at the European level represents a stepping stone towards the set up of a strong European Tourism Policy.
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