The International Social Tourism Organisation (ISTO) recently attended the European Tourism Day (ETD) 2023, which took place in Brussels on 5 May. The event, organised by the European Commission, enabled discussions on the transformation of EU tourism and took stock of the implementation of the Transition Pathway for Tourism together with stakeholders representing the whole spectrum of the tourism ecosystem.
ISTO and ISTO Europe representatives attended the event opened by the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton and the Chairwoman of the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament, Karima Delli. This European Tourism Day (ETD) included an orientation debate and three roundtable discussions, which focused on different important aspects such as the resilience of the ecosystem, the twin transition (green and digital), and the upskilling of the workforce in the EU tourism ecosystem, all with an emphasis on social sustainability.
The ETD 2023 brought together more than 400 tourism industry stakeholders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. As a representative of its members, ISTO had the opportunity to meet several representatives of public and private organisations and emphasise the actions and initiatives of its members that promote and support a fair and sustainable tourism for all.
ISTO's participation in the ETD 2023 reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting social sustainability in tourism globally. The organisation continues to work towards creating a more fair and sustainable tourism industry that benefits tourists, workers and host communities.
