NECSTouR Knowledge Day 2024

December 13, 2024

We are delighted to have hosted the NECSTouR Knowledge Day 2024, an inspiring event that gathered over 70 participants from across our member organisations. It was a celebration of collaboration, learning, and innovation within the sustainable tourism sector, bringing together regional tourism leaders who are driving change in the industry.

NECSTouR Knowledge Day 2024

We are delighted to have hosted the NECSTouR Knowledge Day 2024, an inspiring event that gathered over 70 participants from across our member organisations. It was a celebration of collaboration, learning, and innovation within the sustainable tourism sector, bringing together regional tourism leaders who are driving change in the industry.

The event featured an engaging mix of insightful discussions, forward-thinking knowledge sharing, and best practices from members of the NECSTouR Climate Hub and Tourism Of Tomorrow Lab. Key topics included Destination Carbon Footprint Calculations presented by Ivar Neelis from Breda University of Applied Sciences, alongside groundbreaking contributions from our members:

Daniel Caro, Chief Data Officer, Empresa Pública Para la Gestión del Turismo y Deporte en Andalucía. “The Role of AI in Modern DMOs.”
Walter Mani, Web Strategy Research & Innovation, APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna. “Maximising Resources and Boosting Collaboration.”
Anssi Tarkiainen, Leading Researcher, Lapland University of Applied Sciences. “DEPLOYTOUR: Developing the European Data Space.”
Bart Neuts, Researcher, Visit Flanders. “D3HUB Project: Co-creation of the Future Competence European Centre for Tourism.”
Fabienne de Chassey, Sustainable Tourism Manager, Normandy Tourism. “Low carbon rate Normandy.”
Isabel Florido Martel, Environmental Sustainability Technician, Canary Islands Tourist Board. “A decarbonisation tool for tourism businesses.”
Tiomoid Foley, Net Zero Tourism Manager, VisitScotland. “Reduce Your Climate Impact Guide.”
Carmelo León, University Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “The Climate Change Adaptation Tool for Islands.”

The sessions were further enriched by guest speakers from the European Commission’s DG GROW and DG CLIMA, who provided essential policy insights and highlighted opportunities for NECSTouR members to deepen their engagement on these critical topics within the European sphere. Their contributions added valuable context to the discussions, reinforcing the importance of aligning tourism strategies with European goals.

The event was a fitting conclusion to 2024, providing an opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements while offering a glimpse into the exciting prospects of 2025. The exchange of best practices, innovative strategies, and collaborative initiatives underscores the ongoing commitment of NECSTouR members to shaping a sustainable and competitive future for tourism.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and actively participated. A special appreciation goes to our dedicated session contributors and moderators, including the panellists, as well as our excellent moderators, Daniel Iglesias Gonsálvez and Marjan Nauwelaert. Your shared expertise, insights, and passion are invaluable in shaping the future of tourism.

The momentum doesn’t stop here. As we move forward, NECSTouR remains committed to championing innovation and climate action in tourism. Together, we will continue to drive change, push boundaries, and shape a more sustainable and competitive tourism industry for the future.