Sustainable Tourism: what perspectives and opportunities for the Regions?
- Visit the new PRESERVE website!
- Finland : North Ostrobothnia : NP Syöte
- Roumanie : Tulcea : MAB Danube Delta
Regions are eager to implement sustainable policies that bring economic, social and environmental development to their communities. Recently tourism has been recognised as a priceless tool to value local initiatives and to promote eco-development. All these initiatives contribute to the communitie's development and may attract visitors, thus bringing economic growth and jobs, which is why the AER has taken it at heart to assist its members in building sustainable tourism practices.
In this context, the AER has developped 4 initiatives:
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AER Webportal for sustainable tourism.
The Webportal aims at promoting efficient strategies of sustainable quality tourism at the regional level.
Documents to download and other links:
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Partnership with the International Bureau for Social Tourism
A partnership convention was signed on 8th November, between Mr Illy (AER) and Mr Tonini (BITS). This agreement will allow both organisations to carry out long-term project together. For more information, please refer to the Convention.
Partnership convention
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PRESERVE Interreg IVC project proposition
The project "Peer Reviews for Sustainable Eco-Regions via Europe" was presented on 15 January 2008. The AER is the lead partner in a consortium with 13 other member regions. For further information, please download the powerpoint presentation on the right.
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Peer Reviews on Sustainable Tourism
Following the AER pilot Peer Reviews on Economic Development carried out in 2006, we are now equipped to carry audits in the the field of tourism, to measure the sustainability of regions' tourism policies and to offer advice for improving these policies.
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
The INTERREG IVC PRESERVE Project
Regions must be careful when developing their cultural heritage strategies, to think in sustainable terms and to use the right indicators, should they want to fully benefit from their tourism assets.
The main objective of PRESERVE is to contribute to an improved effectiveness of regional development policies, specifically of regional policies considering cultural heritage as an endogenous factor of economic development and supporting sustainable tourism. Based on commonly defined methodologies, partners will exchange best practices in the field, mainly through the means of on-site peer reviews and exchange seminars. The project activities will also lead to policy recommendations and holistic regional action plans that reconcile ambitions for modernisation and increased competitiveness with issues of sustainability and preservation of cultural heritage.
For further information, please go to our PRESERVE website or contact Ms. Anna Schober, Policy Coordinator: a.schober(at)aer.eu, tel: +32 (0)2 880 95 64
PRESERVE: project description
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.
EC draft guidelines of the renewed EU Tourism policy
AER reaction to the EC draft guidelines for tourism
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.schober(at)aer.eu, tel: +32 (0)2 880 95 64
Mrs Estelle Delangle, e.delangle@aer.eu tel: +33 (0)3 88 22 74 38
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The AER on DG Enterprise & Industry website
The AER's sustainable tourism page is referenced on the tourism section of the European Commission's DG Enterprise & Industry page under "useful links"
- DG Enterprise and Industry - Tourism
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