On October 7th and 8th, Pakhuis de Zwijger is hosting the Positive Tourism festival, a two-day event exploring how tourism can contribute positively to cities, communities and the places people visit, as part of ConnAct EU*- Networks of towns project!
The benefits and burdens of tourism are not always distributed equally, while residents often have limited influence over how the visitor economy develops around them. The Positive Tourism Festival creates space to reconsider this relationship. Rather than focusing only on attracting more visitors, the festival asks how tourism can actively support the wellbeing and identity of a place. How can visitors contribute to the cities they enter? How can tourism become more accessible and inclusive? And how can businesses, policymakers, researchers and residents work together to create meaningful change?
The first day combines inspiration, discussion and exchange. The programme opens with a keynote introducing the main themes of the festival and highlighting pioneers who are already developing new approaches to tourism. Throughout the afternoon, participants can join interactive sessions addressing topics such as post-growth tourism, accessibility, inclusion, responsible hospitality and our emotional connection to places. Exhibitions and creative formats will offer another perspectives on how tourism affects cities and communities. The programme also includes a small fair where participants can meet organisations and initiatives working towards a more positive visitor economy.
In the evening, the festival opens to a wider audience, featuring a keynote on Amsterdam’s developing tourism narrative, a storytelling intermezzo and a panel discussion with policymakers, researchers and urban experts. Together, they will reflect on how Amsterdam can remain welcoming while protecting the city’s livability, identity and social fabric.
The second day takes the festival into the city. During two guided tours, participants will encounter places, initiatives and people who are putting the principles of positive tourism into practice. Moving from discussion to direct experience, the tours will show how local and place-based initiatives can contribute to wider change.
Programme Overview
Wednesday, 7 October
- 14:00-18:00: An afternoon programme (in EN & NL) featuring an opening keynote, parallel interactive sessions and workshops, exhibitions, and a pioneers’ fair.
- 19:00-21:30: A public panel discussion (in NL) with experts, city of Amsterdam economic affairs alderman, policy makers and researchers followed by networking and drinks.
Thursday, 8 October
- 09:30-13:00: A morning programme (in EN) featuring two guided city tours that bring the ideas and practices of positive tourism to life.
Mark the dates and keep an eye on our website for further programme updates and information on how to register!
*More About ConnACT
ConnAct- Alliances for an Active Collaboration of European Towns and Communities aims to establish new, sustainable partnerships and focus on synergies that unite communities across EU borders. The project brings together citizens, municipalities and other key actors through transnational workshops, seminars and conferences to share knowledge and develop new approaches to EU challenges, particularly related to the climate crisis and its impact on a wider range of topics such as unity, justice, equality, accessibility, migration and flight, mobility and housing. This program encourages the creation of a new, bottom-up EU narrative by encouraging European cities and its citizens to create partnerships, collaborate and co-create on a variety of subjects.
