Arild Molstad to culture and tourism conference in Førde

Arild Molstad - travel expert and writer.

What kind of tourism can we live off and live with? asks tourism expert and writer Arild Molstad when he gives the opening speech at Førdekonferansen 2019. The conference is titled CULTURE AND TRAVEL - with sustainability as the goal.

HERE you can see the complete program for the conference - and register.

Arild Molstad has, among other things, been an advisor to the UNESCO World Heritage Office in Paris, Norfund in Africa, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Southeast Asia. As part of the National Geographic Society's Sustainable Destinations program, he initiated a five-year collaboration between Innovation Norway, Hurtigruten, and National Geographic. One of his latest books is titled Last Chance Destinations: How to explore the world while making it a better place to live.

- Molstad tops a strong program on a hyper-current topic. Here is a real opportunity to be updated and participate in the debate about which path tourism should take in the future, and not least what role culture should play in the development, says director Per Idar Almås in Førdefestivalen , who hopes that players in tourism and culture will find their way to Førde this Thursday.

Travel and tourism are a hot topic in the media these days, and the title of Molstad's post also signals that we are faced with important choices: Dramatic choices for Norwegian tourism in 2019: What kind of tourism can we live off and live with? State Secretary Atle Hamar at the Ministry of Climate and Environment will present the government's view of the tourism industry in the future. Margrethe Helgebostad is responsible for tourism analysis at Innovation Norway, and will talk about why culture is important for Norway as a travel destination. Kristian B. Jørgensen, Managing Director of Fjord Norge AS,'s post is titled: How should tourism in Western Norway develop towards 2030?

You will also meet the Managing Director of Fjord1, Dagfinn Neteland, in conversation with Rolf Sanne Gundersen in Sunnfjord Utvikling. Fjord1 has exciting plans for the future both within tourism and creating a greener tourism industry in Norway. The County Director for Culture and Industry in Sogn og Fjordane, Jan Heggheim, will talk about investing in tourism/travel and culture as components of a modern tourism product.

The conference is led by Sigrid Moldestad, and also includes an invitation to a guest reception and the grand opening concert at Førdefestivalen , Thursday evening.

Arild Molstad will also be present on Friday at the festival. Then in conversation with Guttorm Andreasen about his latest book: Last Chance Destinations: How to explore the world while making it a better place to live. This takes place in the exhibition hall at Førdehuset .

See the full program for Førdefestivalen 2019 

Førdekonferansen is organized in collaboration with Sparebanken Vest, Sogn og Fjordane County Council, Førde municipality and Sunnfjord development.