PANTOUR International Conference 2026 in Brussels
On 24 February 2026 the Pact for Next Tourism Generation Skills (PANTOUR) consortium will organise the second international conference in Brussels. The international conference will be an opportunity to take stock of recent project deliverables, outputs and insights of skills development in tourism in Europe and to exchange on priorities and next steps in light of Europe’s digital and sustainable twin transition and skills initiatives. The event will take place at the Rue du Marché aux Herbes 61, in Bruxelles in collaboration with ETOA.
The final PANTOUR International Conference | Tourism Skills 2026-2036 brings together Europe’s tourism leaders, educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to shape the future of skills development in the sector. Hosted at ETOA’s headquarters in Brussels, this high-level industry event will explore how tourism can prepare its workforce for the next decade through strategic planning, innovation, and collaboration.
The conference will present the Tourism Skills Strategy Plan 2026–2036, offering key insights into emerging skills needs, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and long-term workforce resilience. Participants will gain first-hand insight into the Sector Skills Intelligence Monitoring System (SSIM) being rolled out across Europe, alongside practical demonstrations of the Tourism Skills Lab, showcasing cutting-edge tools and real-world applications.
Sessions will also highlight newly developed training programmes tailored to core tourism subsectors, including accommodation, food and beverage, DMOs, visitor attractions, and travel intermediaries while addressing the role of National and Regional Skills Partnerships in driving implementation on the ground. The programme concludes with a panel discussion reflecting on lessons learned, challenges ahead, and opportunities for cross-border cooperation.
With expert speakers, interactive sessions, and dedicated networking time, this conference is an essential forum for anyone committed to building a skilled, inclusive, and future-ready European tourism workforce.
Register here to attend the live event. Please note that you will be redirected to the registration module on the website of our conference partner, ETOA.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026
Location: Brussels, ETOA Headquarters, Rue du Marché aux Herbes 61, 1000 Bruxelles
Time: 10:00 – 14:00 CET (including lunch)
Program
10:00 | Welcome & Introduction
Tim Fairhurst – ETOA and Ana Maria Camps – CEHAT
Opening remarks and introduction to the project, consortium partners, and key deliverables, including reflections from the 1st International Conference.
10:20 | Sector Skills Assessment Methodology
Dr. Corné Dijkmans – Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas)
Presentation of the methodology and implementation of the Sectoral Skills Intelligence Monitor across Europe, including a best-practice example demonstrating practical application of the tool.
10:45 | Skills Strategy Plan 2026–2036 and EDI
Dr. Fernanda Rabelo – Technological University of Dublin
Overview of the Skills Strategy Plan 2026–2036, highlighting key priorities and its approach to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).
11:15 | Break (20 minutes)
11:35 | Tourism Skills Lab
Klaus Ehrlich – European Federation of Rural Tourism (RURALTOUR)
Presentation of the development and implementation of the Tourism Skills Lab, using selected test cases to showcase the full range of functionalities.
12:00 | Training Programmes
Dr. Altti Näsi – Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK)
Overview of the training programmes developed, with emphasis on sector-specific guidance for Accommodation, Food & Beverage, Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), Visitor Attractions, and Travel Agencies & Tour Operators.
12:25 | National and Regional Skills Partnerships
Silvia Enea – Federturismo Confindustria
Presentation of activities, challenges, and opportunities related to National and Regional Skills Partnerships.
12:45 | Open Discussion & Wrap-Up
Moderated discussion, reflections from participants, and next steps.
Speakers
We proudly present you the line-up of our conference speakers:
Ana Maria Camps | CEHAT
Projectleader of PANTOUR
Dr. Fernanda Rabelo | TU Dublin
Leading the EDI strategy and Tourism Skills Strategy Plan of PANTOUR
Dr. Corné Dijkmans Breda University of Applied Sciences
Leading the Sector Skills Intelligence Monitoring System and European and Country Skills Profile insights of PANTOUR
Klaus Ehrlich | European Federation of Rural Tourism
Leading the development and implementation of the European Tourism Skills Lab of PANTOUR and chair of the Pact for Skills
Dr. Altti Nasi | Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
Leading the development of the tailored training programmes for core tourism subsectors in Europe of PANTOUR
Silvia Enea | Federturismo Confindustria
Leading the development and coordination of the National and Regional Skills Partnerships of PANTOUR
Registration
Please confirm your live attendance here. Please note that you will be redirected to the registration module on the website of our conference partner, ETOA.
Places for the final PANTOUR Conference are limited, we kindly ask you to only register when you plan to come to Brussels on the 24th of February.
We hope to see many of you live in Brussels!