Encouraging longer stays and off-season visits enables destinations to tap into “slow-travel” customers that participate in activities beyond the usual “things to do” list. This helps diversify and disperse benefits from visitors and also mitigates issues of over-tourism. Experts from the field will share their insights on how destinations can optimize their appeal to encourage longer and more sustainable visits. From unique experiences to community involvement, this session aims to uncover practical approaches for extending the duration of stays while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
Moderator: Prof. Urs Wagenseil – Professor and Co-director, Tourism Competence Centre, Institute of Tourism, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
• Leigh Howard – Chief Operations Officer, Tourism Fiji
• Linda Sturk – Project Leader, West Sweden Tourist Board
• Jason Bent – Tourism Development Advisor and Cluster Manager, Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine
• Arnar Már Ólafsson – Director General, Icelandic Tourist Board
