This document summarizes a presentation about the NECSTouR network, which is a network of 27 European regions that aims to promote sustainable tourism management at the regional level. Some key points: - NECSTouR was launched in 2007 to strengthen regional cooperation on sustainable tourism development, research, and tourism policy. - Regions play a crucial role in sustainable tourism through local policy, supporting destinations, and managing EU structural funds. - NECSTouR works to increase knowledge sharing, joint activities, expertise, and influence over European tourism policy among its members. - Moving forward, NECSTouR is focusing on helping members better utilize structural funds for tourism through a program called

1. “Sustainable tourism project management in
leading European tourist destinations”
Cristina Núñez
NECSTouR Permanent Secretariat
Leadership and Management in Sustainable Tourism:
Professionalising project management
Naples, July 10th

2. …The Next Tourism !
Launch 2007 – Creation: 2009
- A network of European Regions,
associated with representatives of the tourism entreprises, tourism associations
and universities/ research institutes aiming at:
- Develop a strong framework for regional cooperation at European level;
- Develop research & development model of Sustainable tourism
management;
- Strenghening the Role of Regions in the European Tourism Policy
- A network launched during Euromeeting 2007 in Florence
- A self financed network
NECSTouR

3. Why Regions?
EUROSTAT DATA 2010
Overnight stays in accommodation structures for tourist for NUTS2 Regions
NECSTouR = <600 million of overnight stays per year
Regions’ crucial role:
Sustainable tourism policy designing, implementing and fund rising
Regions’ strategic position:
• Gather the key local tourism stakeholders
• Support tourism destinations and monitor their performance
• Make the bridge between supranational and local level
• Lead to public private partnerships
• International benchmark and cooperate with other regions
• Manage EU Structural Funds
Leading Tourism
Destinations
Regional Competence

4. FULL MEMBERS
27 Regional authorities (NUTS 2)
Portugal: Alentejo, Algarve
Netherlands : Zeeland
France: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,
Aquitaine, Midi- Pyrénées, Bretagne,
Bourgogne, Ile-de-France
Italy: Emilia Romagna, Puglia,
Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto, Piemont
Spain: Catalunya, Islas Baleares, La
Rioja, País Vasco
United Kingdom: Cornwall Region
Belgium: German-speaking
Community of Belgium Region,
Flanders
Switzerland: Valais Region
Sweden: Västra Goteland Region
Czech Republic: Zlín Region
Greece: South Aegean Islands
Croatia: Istria

5. Associated Members
National,European,International public/Private Organisation working in the Sustainable Tourism Sector
 Representatives of theTourism Enterprises
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ)
Croatian Chamber ofEconomy (HGK)
ForumoftheAdriatic and Ionian Chambersof Commerce(FAICC)
French Chambersof Commerceand Industry Assembly (ACFCI)
Italian Association ResponsibleTourism& Legacoop Tourism
National TourismResearch Institute (ISNART)
 Representatives of theSustainableTourismAssociations
SustainableTourismWorking Group – National Association Coordination Italian Agenda 21 (TSGIT21)
European Institute ofCultural Itineraries
Legambiente Turismo
Federcultura
Observatory ofTourismIslandsin Europe(OTIE)
Coastal and MarineUnion
Statistic Institute for Northern Europe(NIT)
European Federation ofNautical stations
Federcultura
Observatory of Tourism Islands in Europe (OTIE)
Coastal and Marine Union
Statistic Institute for Northern Europe (NIT)
European Federation of Nautical stations
 Representatives of the Academic sector
Centre for Cooperative Research in Tourism (CICtourGUNE)
City of Culture and of Sustainable Tourism (CCTD)
Ciudad de la Energía (CIUDEN)
European University for Tourism in Albania
University of Girona
Fondazione Campus Studi del Mediterraneo
Centro Nationale di Ricerca (CNR)
Luspio University of Rome - Faculty of Economics
School of Business in Prague (VSO)
University of Malta
SiTI- High Insitute for Innovative Territorial Systems
The Politechnical Insitute of Leiria
University of Economics in Prague (VSE)
University of Florence
University of Pisa
University of Leiria
National, European, International public/Private Organisation working in the
Sustainable Tourism Sector

6. What do we do?
Increase
KNOWLEDGE
Collection, exchange and evaluation of good practices
Presentation during high level EU Events (ETD, ETF…)
Thematic Regional Conferences
Database (more than 100 on the website)
Increase JOINT
ACTIVITIES
Information, Facilitation,
Development of projects
Dynamic Taskforces
Increase
EXPERTISE
Cooperation with European and International organisations:
UNWTO, CoE, AREPO, RECEP ENELC, ISTO, ERRIN
Increase
VISIBILITY
Promote the strategies and activities of the members
Website, internal/external newsletter, social media,
Annual Regional Conference, Taskforce Meeting
Monitor, contribute and influence the European Tourism Policy:
Consultations /Amendments/Positions
Ensure a Bottom up
CONTRIBUTION

7. NECSTouR Methodology
1. Indicators
2. Blue Growth
3. Landscape
4. Governance of Cultural Routes
5. Accessible Tourism
Taskforces
1. Reduction and optimisation of use of natural resources with particular reference
to water
2. Reduction and optimisation of energy consumption
3. Reduction of waste and better waste management
4. Quality of life of residents and tourists
5. Quality of work
6. Active conservation of cultural heritage
7. Active conservation of environmental heritage
8. Active conservation of distinctive identities of destinations
9. Widening the relations between demand/offer (geographical and seasonal)
10. Transport and mobility
Priorities of the Agenda 2007
Thematic Approach
Projects, Studies, Events, Policy, Communication…
Transversal Approach
3 Pillars
Social Dialogue, Competitiveness, Measurability

8. Measuring Destinations Sustainability
2007 EC COM “AGENDA FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE TOURISM
“3.2.1. Mobilising actors to produce and share knowledge
The European Commission will support the strengthening or the creation of platforms – by also using new
technologies – where lessons drawn by good and bad practices can be exchanged and where
collaboration between tourism and other related sectors can be improved. The promotion of best
practices exchange towards sustainable destination management (e.g. addressing the issue of seasonality
and the prolongation of the tourism season) can contribute in a significant way to the competitiveness of
the tourist destinations. These platforms could allow a more specific approach reflecting the territorial
and economic characteristics of destinations”
)
2010 EC COM “EUROPE, THE WORLD’S N 1 TOURIST DESTINATION-A NEW POLITICAL FRAMEWORK FOR
TOURISM IN EUROPE”
Action XI “The Commission will be supported by the initiative
implemented in cooperation with the Network of European Regions
for a sustainable and competitive European tourism (NECSTouR) and the EDEN destinations network with
a view to developing a system of indicators for the sustainable management of destinations”

9. NECSTouR Regions as donors
Regions manage and allocate EU Structural Funds for tourism ….
but better results justification is needed to pursue the investment
Next MFF 2014 – 2020 is structured in Thematic Objectives and Regions must …
Integrate tourism in regional development strategy
European Court of Auditors
Special Report n°6, 2011,
Where ERDF Co-financed
Tourism Projects Effective

10. CSF 2014 – 2020: Perspectives for Tourism?
• “e-content relevant to the development of rural tourism” (EAFRD)
Thematic Objective 2: “Enhancing access to and use and quality of ICTs”
• “development of SMEs in emerging areas such as new forms of tourism”
Thematic Objective 3: “Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs”
• “sustainable tourism (including the silver economy)”
Thematic Objective 8: “Promoting employment and supporting Labour Mobility”
• “R&I infrastructures, promotion of R&I business advisory services, also in the field of services”
Thematic Objective 1: “Strengthening research, technological development and innovation”
• “Protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage”
Thematic Objective 6: “Protecting the environment & promoting resource efficiency
+

11. NECSTouR Work Programme 2013
Work programme 2013: TESEO
Tourisme European Sustainable Economy and Occupability
Aim? Provide its members with an overview of the EU Funding Opportunities for regional
initiatives leading to competitiveness and sustainable tourism.
What actions?
• TESEO Peer review cycle of the current utilization of the Structural Funds for tourism;
• Analysing complementarity with thematic programmes (Horizon2020, COSME);
• Public events involving tourism stakeholders where experiences are capitalized.
This is a collective learning exercise useful for the regions, which are currently writing their
Operational Programmes and could include some of the recommendations learnt.
How the European Commission can support this initiative?
The European Commission delegates can contribute to the debate and perspectives
within 2014-2020 to fund the presented actions while providing recommendations for
tourism within each fund.

12. TESEO Lessons Learnt
New
forms of
tourism
Competitive
Tourism
SMEs
Tourism
creates
jobs
Tourism
research &
innovation
Tourism
supports
entrepre
neurhsip
Tourism
resource
efficiency
REGIONAL
OPERATIONAL
PROGRAMMES
PROJECT EVALUATION
& MONITORING CRITERIA
ONLY JUSTIFIED
TOURISM APPLICATIONS
WILL BE FUNDED

13. Momentum: Ongoing Negotiations
Structural Funds
Regional Operational Programmes Draft by June 2013 Approval by October 2013
(Other) EU Programmes
Cooperation with EC Tourism Unit to integrate tourism in upcoming programmes
Why now?
Partnership Agreement
MFF 2014 – 2020

14. NECSTouR Regions as Project Managers
Main EU Financial Instruments
MFF 2007-2013 MFF 2014-2020
Cohesion Structural funds:
European Cohesion Fund
European Social Fund
European Regional Development Fund - Territorial Co-operation
(INTERREG)
Structural funds:
European Cohesion Fund
European Social Fund
European Regional Development Fund
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
Agriculture &
Environment
European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
LIFE+
European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development
LIFE+
Research,
Innovation and
Competitiveness
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme:
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme
Information Communication Technologies Policy Support
Programme
Intelligent Energy Europe Programme
Seventh Framework Programme for Research
Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) 2014-2020
Horizon 2020 – Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
Connecting Europe Facility
Galileo and EGNOS programmes
European Earth Monitoring Programme
Culture and
Education
European Culture Programme
Lifelong Learning Programme
Youth in Action Programme
Creative Europe Programme
Erasmus for All Programme
Employment PROGRESS
European PROGRESS Microfinance Facility
Programme for Social Change and Innovation:
PROGRESS Programme, PROGRESS Microfinance,EURES
Marine and
Fisheries Policy
European Fisheries Fund
Programme to Support the Further Development of an
Integrated Marine Policy
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

15. CONCLUSIONS
Undertake Strategic actions
Improve the local situation
REGIONAL AUTHORITIES HAVE A GLOBAL VISION
SOCIAL DIALOGUE – MEASURABILITY – COMPETITIVENESS SUSTAINABILITY
• Methodology, structure & principles
• Effective management monitoring
• Investment justification
• Benefits measurement

16. Thank you!
More info:
communication@necstour.eu
@NECSTouR