Smart Move event: Group tourism charter launched

On 11 May in Brussels, ETOA - a dedicated Smart Move partner - brought together stakeholders in city tourism to launch Groups mean Business - A Charter for Successful Tourism, with partners, European Cities Marketing (ECM) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU). The charter lays out good practice in cities for welcoming and handling group tourism, as well as promoting the benefits of the sector and better partnerships between tour operators and destinations.

The event was attended by tour operators, tourist boards and other stakeholders such as attractions, museums and hotels, and was opened by the chairman of the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee, Brian Simpson. Specific topics addressed included the practicalities of managing group tourism in cities, promoting destinations for groups and raising the profile of group tourism.

For further information please read the Press Release, or contact ngreenfield@etoa.org. The charter is available to download here.

See also the IRU coach friendly City Trophy Award 2009 results.

From left to right: Dieter Hardt-Stremayr (ECM), Yves Mannaerts (FBAA), Tom Jenkins (ETOA)