EC Proposes Annual Tourism Forum

If properly implemented, measures proposed by the European Commission could alleviate the impact of any long-term negative effects to Europe’s tourism sector. Any decline in arrivals to Europe could be no more than a passing phase.

The Commission highlights the need to enhance co-operation and the consistency of tourism policies among the stakeholders involved in tourism, in a communication entitled Working Together for the Future of European Tourism.

These include the European Commission, member states, regional and local authorities, industry, associations, and tourist destinations. The commission aims in particular to foster tourism’s competitiveness and sustainability. Underlining tourism’s contribution to sustainable development, with a special focus on environmental and cultural resources, is high on the list of recommendations, in accordance with the ‘Agenda 21’ guidelines. And with a view to providing the tourism industry with a political platform and improving co-operation and co-ordination, an annual European Tourism Forum, a key interface with stakeholder groups, is proposed.

The commission also presented a report on the September 11 terrorist attack impact on the tourism sector. It expects the effects of these attacks on tourism in Europe to be rather limited in scope and time and if properly implemented, the measures foreseen in the communication should help alleviate the impact of any long-term negative effects.