As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities programme under the theme “Strong Regions, Strong Europe”, representatives from across the continent gathered at the NECSTouR Official Reception in our new offices at Nordic House on 13 October. The reception brought together over 80 participants from European regions, EU institutions and tourism stakeholders to reinforce the message that regions must play a central role in tourism’s transition.

During the reception, NECSTouR Executive Vice‑President Patrick Torrent, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board, highlighted the important work NECSTouR has undertaken in Brussels, giving regions a united voice in their engagement with European institutions by showcasing regional realities and expertise. Mr. Torrent also reflected on how, over the past 20 years, NECSTouR has played a pivotal role in strengthening cross‑border collaboration and enabling the exchange of knowledge across Europe, helping tourism deliver greater benefits for both visitors and residents.

The reception also featured remarks from Mona Björklund, Director of Tourism Policy at DG MOVE, who emphasised that European institutions must work collaboratively with regions to deliver the upcoming European Tourism Strategy. Ms. Björklund further underlined the European Commission’s ambition to build on regional expertise and experience to ensure the effective implementation of the strategy and support the long‑term success of the tourism sector across Europe.

NECSTouR President Mathieu Cuip also addressed participants, highlighting the essential role of regions as the level of governance closest to destinations and communities, making them key actors in driving a more sustainable, resilient and competitive tourism ecosystem. Furthermore, Mr. Cuip reiterated the importance of inter-regional collaboration that NECSTouR facilitates will be a pivotal factor in ensuring that there is a lasting change in Europe’s tourism sector.

By bringing together representatives from regions, Member States, European institutions and the tourism sector, the NECSTouR Reception successfully provided a space for collaboration, partnership building and dialogue, helping to inspire action across Europe.