The ECOSERT Project at the European Tourism Forum The ECOSERT project participated in the first European Tourism Forum that took place in Brussels on 10 December 2002. The annual European Tourism Forum is part of the new activities of the European Union (EU) regarding the future of the European tourism sector, as proposed in the Commission Communication 665 in November 2001. Manos Vougioukas, ECOSERT Project Manager and Director of EuroTrans Consulting, and Nikolos Bogiazidis, special advisor on EU policies from the University of Thessaly Centre for Tourism Planning, Research and Policy, represented the ECOSERT Partnership for Sustainable Tourism at the Forum. Manos Vougioukas presented the ECOSERT project achievements during the Sustainability session of the Forum, in terms of the tourism planning methodology based on the RESTP (Regional Environmental Sustainable Tourism Plan) Guidelines, the innovative applications of the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) of the EU in the ECOSERT demonstration projects and the "Declaration of Volos on Sustainable Development through Tourism" signed by the leaders of the ECOSERT principal partners from Magnesia, Chester and Avellino at the University of Thessaly in September 2003. The ECOSERT presentation at the European Tourism Forum initiated the interest of representatives from Sweden, Finland, Britain and the World Tourism Organisation, that are interested in developing similar actions. Also, the Head of the Tourism Unit of the European Commission, Mr Reinhard Klein expressed his interest in the political co-operation network that is advocated by the Declaration of Volos. Mr Klein, who was in his previous position in the DG Regional Policy responsible for the negotiations of the ECOSERT project in 1997-1998, expressed his interest regarding the ECOSERT results and indicated that the Partnership should make a presentation to the Tourism Unit in due course. The closing speech at the Forum was given by the Greek Minister of Development also in charge of Tourism, Mr Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who is taking over the Presidency of the Council of Tourism Ministers from January 2003. The Minister announced that during the Greek Presidency of the EU during the first half of 2003 two important conferences related to tourism will be held: the first on Tourism and Transport and the second on Tourism and Culture. The participants included Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, Members of the European Parliament, Commission officials, Senior Officials of Ministries from EU member states and accession countries, as well as representatives from local government and the private sector. The second European Tourism Forum will be held in Rome during December 2003 as part of the Italian Presidency of the EU that follows the Greek Presidency. The documents presented at the Forum can be downloaded