Sustainable Tourism: what perspectives and opportunities for the Regions?

• PRESERVE conference: "Innovation & Sustainability in Tourism - Regions present ideas & solutions"

  20 October 2011, Siena, Italy
  

  The goal of the conference is to explore the ideas, problems and solutions of regions related to innovation and sustainability in Europe. In this context, we would like to take a closer look at the developments at the European level related to tourism and to provide good practice examples on the topics of sustainability and innovation from which other regions can learn. The objective is also to present the major outcomes of the INTERREG IVC PRESERVE (Peer REviews for Sustainable Eco-Regions Via Europe) project, which aimed at improving effectiveness of regional tourism development policies and supporting sustainable tourism.

• European Tourism Day

  27 September 2011 Brussels, Belgium

  The 2011 edition of the European Tourism Day will take place in Brussels on 27th September on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The conference will discuss how the preservation and promotion of the European industrial heritage may contribute to the diversification of the tourism offer in Europe, and how - at the same time -tourism development strategies may be key alternatives to avoid job-losses and economic depression in abandoned industrial areas.
  

• European Tourism Forum

  5-7 October 2011, Krakow, Poland
  

  The European Tourism Forum 2011 will be held in Krakow (Poland) between the 5th and the 7th October 2011. The event is organised by the European Commission in collaboration with the Polish Presidency.

• European Commission : CALL FOR TENDERS - Stimulating ICT-enabled innovation in the tourism industry and the food supply-chain

  Deadline: 23 September 2011
  

  This call for tenders is launched by the European Commission for the signature of two service contracts (corresponding to the following 2 lots), aimed at improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the EU tourism and agro-food sectors, by promoting the smart use of ICT among enterprises, notably SMEs, to visibly improve business transactions.
  
  The two lots are:
  Lot 1: Stimulating innovation in the tourism industry through smart use of ICT: assisting SMEs participate in digital value networks in the Single Market
  Lot 2: Stimulating innovation in the food supply-chain through smart use of ICT: assisting SMEs participate in digital supply chains in the Single Market
  Tenderers may tender for one or both lots. For more information, please click here

• European Commission: CALL FOR PROPOSALS - Trans-national cooperation projects on European Cultural Routes

  Deadline: 7 October 2011

  The call will support initiatives aimed at promoting and giving more visibility to trans-national Cultural-Tourism Routes. For more information, please click here

• European Commission: CALL FOR PROPOSALS - Promoting Social Tourism in Europe through the Development of a Demand-Supply Web-Based Platform

  Deadline: 14 October 2011
  

  The overall objective of this call for proposals is to support the creation of a web-based platform as a mechanism intended to facilitate transnational tourism, particularly within the CALYPSO target groups; valorise the potential of off-season availability of accommodation, and increase the competitiveness of tourism SME's. For more information, please click here

This working group is the main support to the AER tourism activities. It is chaired by Thomas Carlsson, Tourism Manager, Västerbotten, Sweden.

Please log in to access the minutes of the last meetings and the agenda of the next one.

AER Reaction to the EU draft guidelines for tourism

Following a call for reactions to the EC draft guidelines of the renewed EU Tourism policy, presented by Mr Commissioner Günther VERHEUGEN in October 2005, the AER has produced a position, which was sent to the European Commission.

Conclusions of AER Seminars on tourism

(see below)

3rd AER Seminar on quality tourism: the problem of seasonality? Which impact and which solutions? Are, Jamtland, 10-12 March 2005

Proceedings available here!

2nd AER Conference on Sustainable Quality tourism 'Linking quality and distinctiveness', Exeter, Devon, 25-26 March 2004

You can find a presentation of the Conference and all outcomes here.

1st AER Seminar on Sustainable tourism on 26-27 June 2003 in Istra

Final Conclusions of the seminar and list of participants available here.

If you want more information on this group or its initiatives, please contact the AER General Secretariat:

Ms Anna Schober, a.schoberdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu, tel: +32 (0)2 880 95 64

Mrs Estelle Delangle, e.delangle@aer.eu tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 38