On Monday 18 January, the Council of the European Union Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth examined the Portuguese Presidency’s draft conclusions on tourism in Europe for the next decade.
In its introduction, the Presidency states that the tourism and travel sector - which accounts for almost 10% of EU GDP and 11.7 million EU jobs - has been significantly weakened by the health restrictions imposed to limit the spread of Covid-19, and currently has “the highest investment needs among the 14 industrial ecosystems and the lowest confidence indicator”.
However, the Presidency adds, the aftermath of the pandemic may provide an opportunity for the EU to “reinforce its cooperation and coordination in the framework of a European Agenda for Tourism”.
The draft conclusions therefore emphasise, as a first step, the importance of Member States exchanging good practice, particularly with regard to policies for sustainable tourism.
The document also calls for additional measures to improve the quality of tourist services and to make them more innovative, environmentally friendly and resilient.
Financial support
The Portuguese Presidency also proposes that the Council of the EU commit itself to ensuring that the EU allocates “adequate economic and financial tools” to support the long-term recovery of the tourism ecosystem and facilitate the improvements mentioned above.
Calls for more financial support from the EU for its tourism industry have so far gone unheeded.
In the autumn, MEPs expressed their regret that, although tourism is part of the EU’s remit, it does not have a dedicated line in the EU budget (see EUROPE 12566/12). For their part, travel and tourism professionals have called on European governments to support the sector using the European Recovery Plan (see EUROPE 12582/23).
The draft conclusions also suggest inviting the European Commission to launch, at the latest by September 2021, “a comprehensive overview of funding sources for tourism in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027”. This is in order to “give due support to” all the planned policy measures and facilitate access to information for stakeholders.
Shared priorities
The Portuguese Presidency also proposes calling on the European Commission to work with the Member States and the sector to design an “EU Tourism Scoreboard” before the end of the year.
There are also plans to launch a European Agenda for Tourism 2030-2050, in order to set shared European priorities for the green and digital transition of tourism and “its competitiveness, resilience and sustainability”.
The draft conclusions can be found at: https://bit.ly/3isG8nb (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)