Tourism and Urban Development
Why this topic
Tourism can be an effective tool for regional economic development. The question is how to attract tourism, and how to turn tourism into a surplus value for the region in terms of economic activity in a broader sense. Obviously, every city with an attractive and interesting historical value would like to profit from tourism. But on the other hand tourism can be a killer too. Cities need more than being run over by busloads and selling postcards. Tourists should have the possibility to do more in the city than just use it as a temporary accommodation. The city is part of a regional market in which both tourism and economic activity are taking part, next to all other sectors of policy. How can a strategy for regional development be combined with an effective tourist strategy? And what should this mean for city regeneration in which there is no place for sterile touristical products?
Aim / purpose of the working party
To create a communication platform and –network on behalf of an approach by which the authenticity of the city and the region as a whole should be strengthened, by which they will be able to exercise their own dynamism, and in which the quality of the living environment is equally important as tourist attraction. This working party takes the task of organising exchange of information and experiences in order to bring the planning profession forward and accelerate new understanding and insights in this matter. It is targeted at providing inspiration and new impulses for planners and tourism experts in their daily work.
Target group
All those working at urban and regional policies concerning urban development, regional development, urban renewal, economic development, tourism and city marketing.
Brief overview of past activities / publications
Activity plan: five yearly meetings: three-day programmes of working meetings field visits and debates with local experts, in a city in Europe. Each meeting will be followed by a report.
Conclusions and report after 5 years: to be presented at IFHP Congresses or at a separate special symposium, and to be translated and published by IFHP.
Kick-off meeting: 24 – 27 September 2003, Oporto, Portugal.
Second meeting: 9-12 October 2004, Valetta, Malta.
Third meeting: 18-20 September 2005, Budapest, Hungary.
Fourth meeting: 30 September-3 October 2006, Göteborg, Sweden.
Composition of group and how to contact
- Jaromír STEJSKAL, chair of the Working Party
SAURA, s.r.o.
Please contact the IFHP Secretariat for more details.
Last Updated @ Tuesday, 04 March 2008