Frank Magee, Chief Executive of Dublin Tourism, has been elected President of European Cities Tourism (ECT) at a General Assembly held in Helsinki. Speaking following his election, Frank Magee said: “urban tourism is the fastest growing tourism sector in Europe. The European market currently accounts for 50% of worldwide tourism arrivals and with the growth in long haul international markets there is a lot to be gained by cities working together.”

One of the first priorities set by Magee is to hold discussions with ECT to see how national tourism organisations and cities can work together to increase the profile of urban destinations.

European Cities Tourism is the professional tourism network promoting and linking the interests of tourism to European cities. The network currently connects more than 100 major cities from 30 countries, from Dublin, London, and Moscow to Reykjavik, Seville and Zagreb. From January 2007 this number will increase to 150 cities following a merger with the European Federation of Congress Towns.

European Cities Tourism aims to strengthen city tourism by communicating information, sharing knowledge and expertise and working together on an operational level. It represents the cities` interests to the EU and other tourism organisations.

ECT has recently formed alliances with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC).