A new strategic vision for the EU's Tourism Policy

Published: 14 April 2010 y., Wednesday

Lagaminas
The European Tourism Stakeholders Conference, being held in Madrid today and tomorrow, will explore ways and means to strengthen the visibility of tourism at a European level and to verify how the actions to promote a competitive EU tourism industry and a sustainable growth of European tourism can be consolidated in an updated EU tourism policy framework, to be implemented in close cooperation with the national and regional authorities and the EU private tourism stakeholders.

Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “Tourism is one of the economic activities with most significant potential to generate future growth and employment in the EU. Like all the economic sectors, tourism was affected by the recent economic downturn, but has proven to be, nevertheless, one of the most resilient sectors, recently even showing signs of muted recovery and growth.”

The European Commission, in close collaboration with the Spanish Presidency of the Council, is organising a European Tourism Stakeholders Conference, in Madrid, Spain on the 14 and 15 April 2010.

Tourism is a key sector of the European economy. It comprises a wide variety of products and destinations and involves many different stakeholders, both public and private, with areas of competence very decentralised, often at regional and local levels.

Europe could embrace the quality, sustainable and accessible tourism that makes us unique in the world, thanks to its historical, artistic and cultural heritage, to the high quality formation of the personnel and to the attention paid to the environment.

The Lisbon Treaty acknowledges the importance of tourism, outlining, for the first time, a specific competence for the European Union in this field and allowing for decisions to be taken by qualified majority. This should reinforce the EU as the foremost tourist destination of the world.

The EU tourism industry generates more than 5% of the EU GDP, with about 1.8 million enterprises employing around 5.2% of the total labour force (approximately 9.7 million jobs). When related sectors are taken into account, the estimated contribution of tourism to GDP creation is much higher: tourism indirectly generates more than 10% of the European Union's GDP and provides about 12% of the labour force.

At the conference in Madrid, specific themes will be discussed including innovation and competitiveness, sustainable and socially responsible tourism, as well as ways of reinforcing the image of Europe as a tourist destination. Ministers and State Secretaries from all EU and Candidate Countries will share their views, alongside senior officials representing European stakeholders and the private sector.

The outcome of the Conference will pave the way for a coordinated and coherent approach on forthcoming initiatives on tourism policy to be undertaken at European level. This is expected to be reflected in a Declaration that will be presented to the Commission. This conference coincides with an Informal Ministerial meeting on Tourism that will be hosted by the Spanish Presidency.

 

Šaltinis: europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

First woman wins Nobel Economics

Elinor Ostrom -- an American professor who developed ways to manage common property - is the first woman to win the Nobel prize for economics. more »

435 construction workers in the Netherlands to receive help from EU Globalisation Fund

The European Commission has today approved an application from the Netherlands under the Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for € 386 114 to help 435 workers made redundant by Heijmans N.V., a Dutch construction company, back into jobs. more »

Lithuanian biotech products conquer China

Seeking to strengthen and further expand product sales in the Asian region, the Lithuanian biotechnology company Fermentas established its subsidiary in China. more »

Foreign trade of Lithuania in January– August 2009

Statistics Lithuania reports that, based on non-final data obtained from customs declarations and Intrastat reporting data, exports in January–August 2009 totalled LTL 25.6 billion, while imports – LTL 28.9 billion. more »

AB „Finasta Holding“ will control „Finasta“ group and other companies of bank SNORAS group, engaging in financial investment activity

On 6 October 2009 AB Bank SNORAS Board decided to reform the Private Limited Company UAB “SNORO investicijų valdymas” into the Public Limited Company AB „Finasta Holding“, which will control recently obtained „Finasta“ group companies and other Bank SNORAS group companies, engaging in investment management. more »

Bust airlines - MEPs back compensation for grounded passengers

If your airline goes bankrupt and leaves you stranded what are your legal rights? Members of the Parliament's Transport Committee want grounded passengers to have access to a special compensation fund. more »

Crisis lessons

Euro report says currency provided protection from interest and exchange rate turbulence. more »

Prices for industrial production in September 2009 dropped by 1.6 per cent

Statistics Lithuania informs that in September 2009, against August, prices for total industrial production sold dropped by 1.6 per cent. more »

IFIs pledge continued drive to support Central and Eastern Europe through recovery

The European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, and the World Bank Group* on Monday warned against complacency in the face of significant challenges that stand in the way of economic recovery in Central and Eastern Europe. more »

DnB NORD Bank to approve new note issue programme

The leader of the country’s investment products’ market – AB DnB NORD Bankas – intends to issue up to EUR 300 million nominal value corporate notes in local and foreign markets over the next 12 months. more »