European Tourism Forum to focus on digital transformation in tourism

Tourism experts from EU Member States and key stakeholders will meet at the European Tourism Forum in Helsinki on 9–10 October to exchange views on digital transformation in the tourism sector.

The European Tourism Forum will discuss how digital transformation can be harnessed to create sustainable growth in the EU’s tourism sector. The discussion will focus on three key topics: impact of digital transformation for tourism businesses, innovation agility and data management. Among the aims of the forum is to discuss how tourism businesses can respond to digital transformation in their strategic planning and activities and which policy measures could be used to boost tourism businesses at national and EU level.

Digital transformation opens up new opportunities for sustainable growth in tourism

Digital transformation has a strong impact on the tourism sector, and this can boost sustainable growth in the EU and create new jobs. Globally, tourism is growing at an annual rate of 5%. Tourism accounts for more than 10% of GDP in the EU and for nearly 12% of the total workforce. As a place-based industry, tourism has great regional importance.  Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union stresses the importance of digital transformation for increasing sustainability in tourism.

“Digital transformation opens up new opportunities for innovation with potential to promote sustainability, respond to travellers’ needs and ensure the competitiveness of the tourism sector. However, digital transformation is an underused resource in European tourism,” says Chief Specialist Sanna Kyyrä from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

“The tourism sector needs more cross-sectoral innovation ecosystems and a higher level of skills and competence. This we can achieve through closer cooperation between the private and public sectors,” says Kyyrä.

The European Tourism Forum in Helsinki on 9–10 October will be attended by tourism experts from EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The forum is now organised for the 18th time and for the first time in Finland. It is part of the programme of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is co-organised with the European Commission.

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Inquiries:
Sanna Kyyrä, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7012