Brussels, 30/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In an effort to work out how to strengthen and improve the future competitiveness and sustainable development of the tourism industry, the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council will be meeting with Tourism Ministers from Member States for an informal meeting on Friday 4 May in Santander. The Minister for the Economy and Finance, Rodrigo Rato y Figerado, will be chairing the meeting in which Commissioner Erkii Liikanen will participate. The Ministerial meeting will be followed on 5 May in Santander, by a forum that will bring together actors from industry and tourism. The forum will focus on: "Challenges and opportunities for the tourism sector in Europe: a dialogue between the public and private sectors". The seminar will concentrate on four areas: 1) Main tourist consumer trends; 2) tourism and sustainable development; 3) new information technologies and tourism; 4) tourism and quality: destinations, sectors and products.
Participants at the two events will review the situation in the tourist industry following the 11 September attacks and stress the positive effects of effective co-operation between the different actors in the tourist world. The Commission communication on "A co-operative approach for the future of European tourism" will serve as a basis for discussions (see EUROPE 15 November 2001 page 8). The EP and Council have already responded to this communication with draft resolutions that will be analysed by the Internal Market Council, consumers and tourism on 21 May.
Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the EU, given its share of GDP in each Member State and its ability to create jobs, stressed the Commission's spokes person. It contributes towards creating high level employment, social security and sustainable growth, as well as a better quality of life and pan-European integration.
Erkki Liikanen explained that due to the complexity and inter-dependency of the different economic sectors in tourism, actors throughout Europe had to unite in an effort that was open and constructive to put their industry onto a sustainable and competitive footing. He also pointed out that all Commission services involved in the tourism sector were committed alongside actors from the industry, in a regular reflection and consultation process that aimed to guarantee that the points of view and priorities of the different actors were taken into account in EU policies. A strong commitment in the process of the European tourism sector was part of the response to the events of 11 September, Mr Liikanen explained.