Sustainability in European tourist destinations

Comisión Europea

The European Commission, in collaboration with other European organizations, such as Surrey University in the United Kingdom, has promoted the creation of a European tourism system of indicators for the sustainable management of destinations. This system is addressed to local and regional authorities, specially the tourism managing organizations, to incorporate sustainability as central and integral part of their management and decision-making processes.

The presentation of this idea will be in Brussels on Friday 22nd February 2013, and Josep Capellà will attend the event. As it’s said on the event’s website, the conference’s attendants will learn how to implement this system of indicators on destinations; to understand the value and benefits of using this system for monitoring sustainability; to discover how to improve and enhance the destination’s sustainability, visitation and long-term success; to exchange experiences from representatives from pilot destinations which have tested the system; and to receive the European Tourism Indicator System Toolkit and Dataset before being launched Europe-wide.

Pedro Ortún, director of the DG for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission, will welcome the attendants and close the conference. Peter Lane and Apolónia Rodrigues, experts of the Tourism Sustainability Group, will be some of the speakers in the conference.

“European tourism indicator system for sustainable management at destination level”

What is TSG?

Tourism Sustainability Group (TSG) is a panel of experts that advises the EU Commission, DG Enterprise, Tourism Unit, in the field of Sustainability. This group was set up in 2004 and comprises professionals from different fields (individuals from international organizations, members of state governments, regional and local authorities, the tourism industry, professionals, environmental organizations, trade unions and research and educational bodies) who have expertise and experience in the sustainability of tourism.

Peter Lane knows the reality of our country, as he led the RESTORE European project (Resort Regeneration Pilot Project), which produced a planning guide for tourist areas. 4 different municipalities from Costa Brava, such as Torroella de Montgrí – l’Estartit, as well as the Girona University, who took part in this project.

Article: DCB Tourism and Local Development @DCBTurisme