Conference on sustainable tourism in Luleå: "Learn a lot from Norrbotten"
Around 160 participants from Europe's tourism industry are currently in Luleå for a major conference. The network NECSTouR, which works for sustainable and competitive tourism, is here. The Swedish Lapland Visitors Board and Region Norrbotten are sharing the hosting duties. “We hope to learn a lot from Norrbotten,” says chairman Peter De Wilde.
The tourism sector is currently undergoing a massive shift towards sustainability. The goal is to learn together how regenerative tourism can shape the future, how we can together care for the Arctic and the future of the business.
– We are proud to showcase Norrbotten and the important sustainable work in the tourism industry that creates attractive places for visitors, residents and investors, says Anders Öberg (S), chairman of the regional board, who welcomed the NECSTouR annual general meeting in the Regional House on Tuesday.
Regional Councilor Anders Öberg welcomed the audience to the annual meeting. Photo: Ted Logart.
Norrbotten County, through the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board and Region Norrbotten, has been a member of the association since 2020. The organization is based in Brussels and works to strengthen and guide the development of tourism in Europe. The activities are based on the major strategies and roadmaps outlined by the EU.
“Stronger and more durable”
– NECSTouR was created to make the tourism industry in Europe stronger and more sustainable. The regional level is right for this work, as it creates impact beyond what the local level alone can do and relevance beyond what the national level can do, said Peter De Wilde, Chairman of NECSTouR, during yesterday's meeting.
Hosts Anders Öberg, Region Norrbotten and Annika Fredriksson, CEO Swedish Lapland together with NECSTouR chairman Peter de Wilde. Photo: Erika Falk
Several of the other member regions have in recent years expressed great interest in how we work in Norrbotten, and have been curious about our Arctic destination.
– It is important and good that we are here in Norrbotten, as we often meet in urbanized areas. In Norrbotten we can clearly see how the tourism industry creates important values for local communities. Not that it breaks down communities, as mass tourism can do. We hope to learn a lot from Norrbotten, about the importance of taking care of a region that is important globally, said de Wilde.
Early Midsummer celebration
After the annual meeting, the participants visited Gammelstad Church and the Hägnan open-air museum, where "campfire workshops" were held. Then they traveled to Brändön to experience a Swedish midsummer celebration, albeit early. Now the theme conference takes Care for the Arctic – Let's extend the horizon together around May 22-23.
A visit to Hägnan in Gammelstad was included in the annual meeting program.
“Taking care of our destinations properly"
Janus Brandin spoke about Norrbotten's new tourism industry strategy.
Background: NECSTouR
The organization brings together around forty European regional tourism organizations as well as thirty associate members such as universities, research institutes and organizations.
NECSTouR provides strategies for tourism governance and is an important link between regional and wider European support systems.
It constitutes an important link between the regions and the European Parliament and the European Commission. In this way, the association contributes to influencing European tourism policy.
Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa
