Tourism industry united in joint efforts for sustainability and responsibility

On Tuesday, May 5, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth invited the government to the first contact conference for the tourism industry. The aim of the conference was to bring together the industry, authorities and other stakeholders for a dialogue on how Norwegian tourism can be further developed in a sustainable and responsible manner. The conference marks the start of what will become an annual meeting place for the tourism industry.

A clear message throughout the day was that tourism is about much more than tourism alone. Tourism creates jobs, activity and vibrant local communities, especially in rural areas. At the same time, it was emphasized that further growth must take place in a way that takes into account both nature and local communities. Developing tourism is about building attractive local communities over time, not just facilitating visitors. It is about creating places where people want to live, work and visit.

A common theme was that responsible tourism is not only about limiting impact, but also about developing strong local communities with pride, quality and a long-term perspective.

Representatives from Innovation Norway, Hurtigruten and Up Norway shared perspectives on developments in Norwegian tourism. In addition, Kine Willumsen from Ytri Island Retreat at Træna spoke about, among other things, how destinations are built brick by brick over time, through people, quality and a willingness to invest. She also pointed out how rural tourism often faces challenges related to systems and framework conditions that are not always adapted to the reality in smaller communities.

The conference also highlighted the work on the government's upcoming comprehensive tourism plan, which will be presented in the autumn. The government wants input on the upcoming comprehensive tourism plan: Input on the government's comprehensive tourism plan

It was also noted that the new law on visitor contributions will come into effect from July 1. The goal is to give local communities better tools to manage the burden and ensure that tourism development is in line with local needs and priorities.

The entire conference can be viewed here: The government brought together the tourism industry in a joint effort for sustainability and responsibility