On Sunday 9th March, starting at 1 p.m. at Futura Expo, there will be the round table ‘Sustainable Tourism and Rural Development’, in which UNIMONT, Alpine hub of theUniversity of Milan, is invited to speak together with Klaus Ehrlich, Secretary General of Ruraltour – European Federation of Rural Tourism, Patricia Martinez Saez, Policy Advisor – Rural Pact, and Eugenio Massetti, President of Visit Brescia
Europe faces growing challenges and opportunities in sustainability. Tourism, when thoughtfully integrated with rural development strategies, has the potential to revitalize communities, preserve cultural heritage, and generate new economic opportunities. However, for this potential to be fully realized, there is also a strong need to empower stakeholders with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the evolving tourism sector.
To explore this theme, Futura Expo is organising the meeting ‘Sustainable Tourism and Rural Development’, which will take place on Sunday 9th March at 1.00 p.m. at the NEXT GEN ARENA and will involve Klaus Ehrlich, Secretary General of Ruraltour-European Federation of Rural Tourism, Patricia Martinez Saez, Policy Adivisor – Rural Pact, Eugenio Massetti, President of Visit Brescia and Anna Giorgi, head of the UNIMONT hub of the University of Milan.
The roundtable will explore how European initiatives are addressing these interconnected themes: fostering sustainable tourism, driving economic growth in rural areas, and equipping local populations with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing market. More specifically, the meeting will concentrate on the Rural Pact, the Transition Pathway for Tourism, and the Pact for Skills.
Through these presentations, the aim is to explore how Europe is leveraging its unique rural assets and skill-building initiatives to create resilient and inclusive tourism ecosystems. There will also be a focus on online communities and platforms, and the vital role of collaboration between governments, local stakeholders, and educational institutions in achieving these goals