Programme

It is our pleasure to extend an invitation to Balestrand Summit 2009, to be held at Kviknes Hotel in Balestand 25-27. May. This year, our twin topics are sustainable tourism and profitability, as seen in the short and the long- term run. The travel industry may achieve considerable savings, e.g. through energy conservation. Many people believe that a clear environmental profile can be a strong element in advertising aimed at the tourists of the future, thus constituting a competitive advantage for early birds. But what about the challenges the travel industry will face in the long run, such as reducing the environmental strain of airborne tourism?

Foreign and domestic companies and destinations, such as Hilton Hotels and the skiing destination Whistler in Canada, will be presenting their best examples of attempts to combine sustainable development and economic benefits, in the short run as well as in the long run.

This year’s Balestrand Summit is the second in a series of three conferences to discuss strategies and initiatives aiming at making Norwegian tourism environmentally sustainable. The results of the discussions will serve as recommendations to the Government for developing outlines for a sustainable tourist industry. Please join us in shaping the future!

The seminar will take place in a gem of a tourist resort, Balestrand, staying at one of the definite classics among old West Norwegian wooden hotels, Kviknes Hotel. This hotel is now in the process of reorganizing its operation in a more sustainable direction, e.g. by specializing in locally produced food. The opening day will feature a tasty lunch, “Sognatapas”, entirely made from local produce. The gourmet chef Ole Johnny Eikefjord from Restaurant Eik in Oslo, will prepare a three-course supper for us, and measure the climatic strain resulting from this meal. A delicious and palatable experiment, performed here for the very first time!

This year's seminar has been organized by Innovation Norge , Sogn og Fjordane University College (HSF), Universitety of Stavanger , The Institute of Transport Economics (TØI) and Western Norway Research Institute.

Moderator: Bernard Lane, Editor of “ Journal of Sustainable Tourism ”

Sign up here by 1. Mai

Greetings,