PROGRAM

Registration and Welcome

Official Opening of the Symposium

Conference : Minister of Tourism, Quebec

Presentation of the program

Conférence : Sustainable tourism development and the current economic context : a hindtrance or a business opportunity?

Speaker : Michel Archambault >>>
Moderator : Pierre Villa

Conférence : Le soutien du Centre Mondial d’Excellence des Destinations aux destinations touristiques mondiales, dans le respect de l’équilibre entre l’économie, le social et l’environnemental

Speaker : André Vallerand
Moderator : Pierre Villa

Health Break (tourism exhibition)

Plenary Session : Significant Actions Implemented in Tourism since the Brundtland Report

This presentation will address the main policy lines elaborated by international organizations like the WTO and emphasize what the private sector of the tourism industry has done to comply with public policies on this matter.

Speakers : Costas Christ, Francesco Frangielli

Lunch

WORKSHOPS: DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE TOURIST DESTINATION
(One choice only)

A: Sustainable Destinations

This workshop will stress the important role cohesion and a shared vision play in making a destination sustainable according to the three pillars of sustainable development. It will look at partnerships between members of the tourism industry and the need for strong leadership to ensure a tourist destination’s economic viability.

Speakers :
Malcolm Bell, >>>
Gerhard Walter

Moderator : Pierre Villa

B: Regional Partnerships

This workshop will emphasize the importance of regional planning and strategy to develop tourism at a given destination. It will also address good practices in integrated resort development and outline initiatives of tourism product development that add value to a destination as a whole.

Speakers :
Arthur DeJong, >>>
Christian Hart >>>

Moderator : François Diguer

C: Communities

This workshop will show the importance of local area and community support for the destination’s tourism product. Emphasis will be placed on the strategic nature of tourist reception and initiatives on a local level, which help create a positive image of the destination.

Speakers :
Louis Jolin, >>>
Seija Tuulentie >>>

Moderator :
Sylvie Rivard

Health Break (tourism exhibition)

WORKSHOPS: DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE TOURIST DESTINATION (continued) (One choice only)

A: Marketing and Commercializing a Destination

This workshop will stress the importance of a destination’s economic development through various initiatives such as package deals and yield management. Success stories will be presented.

Speakers :
Julien Auray, >>>
Peter Walters  >>>

Moderator :
Pierre Labrie

B: Benefits for the Destination

This workshop will present model initiatives to maximize a destination’s economic and social benefits.

Speakers :
Edwards Sanders, >>>
Suzanne Lareau >>> 

Moderator :
Christiane Gagnon

C: Benefits for the Community

This workshop will present initiatives that maximize community benefits generated by tourism development as well as examples of success factors.

Speakers :
Torbjörn Lahti, >>>
Richard Butler   >>>

Moderator :
Paule Côté

Plenary Session: Destination competitiveness: convergence or divergence?

This presentation will focus on the importance of destination development based on the strengths and unique qualities of places that need to be reinforced by product diversification in a constantly evolving tourism market. It will emphasize the tourism industry’s need to remain economically viable while according greater respect for the social and natural environment. The triple bottom line performance concept (economic, social and environmental) will be addressed.

Speaker : Jean-Marc Eustache      Moderator : Charles Lapointe