PLYMOUTH HOSTS TOP EUROPEAN TOURISM OFFICIALS

Plymouth Hoe

South West Tourism and the University of Plymouth are hosting a conference  which will help to shape the future of tourism in regions across Europe.
 
Tourism officials from around Europe heard from expert speakers on pressing issues such as climate change and transport, as well as seeing examples of best practice from the tourism sector in the South West.
 
The tourism officials attending are part of the Network of European Competitiveness and Sustainable Tourism Regions (NECSTouR) which already has around 30 regions participating, along with research institutes and trade associations. South West Tourism (SWT) is an active member and the focus of the network fits well with their approach to combine economic success with environmental and social responsibility – an approach that was recently recognised as SWT were one of 3 finalists in an international sustainable tourism award.
 
The main focus for this Conference (the 3rd in the lifetime of the network) will be to take forward the action plans of each working group, identifying and agreeing relevant indicators and priorities. Each working group focuses on a key tourism issue:
•    Sustainable  business practice
•    Quality of life  of residents
•    Reducing  seasonality
•    Conservation of  heritage and identity
•    Transport 
The second and third day of the conference were hosted by the University of Plymouth, including expert presentations on key cross-cutting topics to inspire and inform the work of the groups. Speakers included Stephanie Draper from the UK’s leading sustainable development charity, Dr Murray Simpson from the University of Oxford and Henry Hicks from ‘green’ marketing experts ‘Futerra, along with input from the University’s own Centre for Sustainable Transport.  
 
NECSTouR has been established to provide a co-ordinated framework for programmes and research delivering the European Commission’s ‘Agenda for European Sustainable and Competitive Tourism’. After being initiated at the Euromeeting in November 2007, there have been 2 meetings of the network to date. These have taken place in Barcelona (March 08) and Marseille/ Provence, (October 08).
 
Malcolm Bell, Director of South West Tourism said:
 
"South West Tourism is honoured to be hosting a conference that will help to shape how tourism develops in regions around Europe. It’s exciting to be able to showcase how businesses and partners here in the South West have been finding solutions that help tourism prosper while being a benefit to the environment and communities. We don’t have all the answers though and it will be great to learn from other regions’ experience and reduce duplication by working together."
 
Sheela Agarwal, Acting Head of Group for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Plymouth Business School, said:
 
"It is marvellous for the University of Plymouth to co-host a conference of this nature. As the enterprise university, we are committed to fostering responsible business practice across all industry sectors, including tourism, and sustainable tourism is a core element of our teaching and research activities.
 
We are delighted to welcome key experts and practitioners in this field and to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and experience which will ultimately be of huge benefit to tourism in the South West".
 
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