CIM-Coimbra FIRST Local Stakeholder Group Meeting
On August 2nd, CIM-Coimbra held the first online Local Stakeholder Group (LSG) meeting for the Tourism4SDG project, marking a significant step forward in achieving the project’s objective of advancing sustainable tourism. This meeting brought together key stakeholders committed to aligning tourism activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering regional collaboration.
Dr. Jorge Brito, Intermunicipal Executive Secretary of CIM-Coimbra, commenced the meeting by highlighting the significance of sustainability in tourism. He underscored the need to create pathways that not only address global challenges but also contribute to improving local practices. While acknowledging that Tourism4SDG may not solve all issues, Dr. Brito highlighted its fundamental role in driving positive change and aligning national and regional policies with sustainable tourism objectives.
Ana Ladeiras, Chief Executive Officer from Around Europe Advisors, discussed the importance of the Interreg programme as a collaborative platform while announcing the 2 new Discovery Partners that have entered the project. She outlined the objectives of Tourism4SDG, emphasising its pioneering role in promoting sustainable tourism. Ana Ladeiras also highlighted the value of LSG's role in supporting and ensuring the dissemination and transfer of best practices learnt during Tourism4SDG to local stakeholders.
At the end of the session, several participants had the opportunity to share their perspectives on the project’s impact. Dra Diana Manita from Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal (AHRSP) accentuated the importance of monitoring and measuring sustainability outcomes, praising the project’s innovative approach to developing tools for monitoring sustainability. Dra. Florbela Baptista, representing Turismo de Portugal, complemented by underlining that sustainability is not just a goal but a fundamental attitude that must be present in all tourism activities.
The meeting concluded with a consensus that Tourism4SDG’s assessment of sustainability progress and identifying areas for improvement is innovative and valuable. All Local Stakeholder Group members were invited to the upcoming Kick-off Meeting on September 25th in Coimbra City, an important milestone in setting the tone for the project's future activities.
A special thanks to all representatives from the organisation integrating the Local Stakeholder Group: Associação para o Desenvolvimento Integrado da Rede de Aldeias de Montanha, Agência para o Desenvolvimento Turístico das Aldeias do Xisto, Associação da Hotelaria, Restauração e Similares de Portugal, Câmara Municipal de Coimbra, Turismo de Portugal and Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra.