The meeting, hosted by City Destinations Alliance in Barcelona, addressed the evolving role of Destination Management Organisations. Participants outlined a structural shift from marketing focused promotion to long term stewardship and coordination within the urban ecosystem. DMOs (Destination Management Organisations) are increasingly acting as neutral convenors, aligning public and private stakeholders. They are facilitating dialogue between institutions and communities and anchoring strategies beyond electoral cycles. Contributions from urban strategist Greg Clark highlighted the importance of preserving the democratic governance, cultural capital and social trust that define European cities.

European DMOs align competitiveness with community trust

Workshop sessions explored structural tensions shaping the visitor economy. Discussions focused on how visitor needs can be balanced with resident interests and how measurable economic value can be reconciled with perceived public benefit. Participants emphasised that tourism must operate within the framework of the city’s social contract, since resident trust is a prerequisite for long term competitiveness and reputational resilience. The discussions were guided by the CityDNA Tórshavn Declaration. It defines coordinated priorities for 2026, including value based measurement, transparent taxation, AI ethics, cross sector collaboration and stronger community alignment.