Sustainable Tourism in Europe: Chances

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Sustainable Tourism in Europe Chances
Challenges Podgorica 26 MayEdward Tersmette
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General
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The weight of tourism in Europe

• 4 of the Community GDP
• 4 of the total labour force
• 8 million jobs
• But with the related sectors
• 11 of the Community GDP
• 12 of the total labour force
• 24 million jobs

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Promoting Sustainable and Competitive European
Tourism

• Since 2001 Communications
• TSG Report Feb 07
• Public Consultation
• Agenda for a Sustainable and Competitive European
  Tourism (Oct 07)
• ETF 2007

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Key challenges for the sustainability of European
tourism

• 1. Reducing the seasonality of demand
• 2. Addressing the impact of tourism transport
• 3. Improving the quality of tourism jobs
• 4. Maintaining and enhancing community prosperity
  and quality of life, in the face of change
• 5. Minimising resource use and production of
  waste
• 6. Conserving giving value to natural/cultural
  heritage
• 7. Making holidays available to all
• 8. Tourism as a tool in global sustainable
  development

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Principles for achieving a competitive and
sustainable tourism
Plan for the long term
Take a holistic and integrated approach
Achieve an appropriate pace and rhythm of
development
Involve all stakeholders
Minimise and manage risk
Reflect impacts in costs
Use best available knowledge
Set and respect limits, where appropriate
Undertake continuous monitoring
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The European Agenda
Sustainability Awareness by Tourists
Sustainable Management of Destinations
Integration of Sustainability Concerns by
Businesses
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The role of the European Commission

• Mobilising actors to produce and share knowledge
• Promoting destinations of excellence
• Mobilising the EU financial instruments
• Mainstreaming sustainability and competitiveness
  in Commission policies .For the latter knowledge
  and analysis of existing policies and
  jurisprudence are indispensable

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Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
(a)

• Article 2 E
• The Union shall have competence to carry out
  actions to support, coordinate or supplement the
  actions of the Member States. The areas of such
  action shall, at European level, be
• (a) protection and improvement of human health
• (b) industry
• (c) culture
• (d) tourism
• (e) education, vocational training, youth and
  sport
• (f) civil protection
• (g) administrative cooperation.

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Treaty on the Functioning of the European
UnionTITLE XXI TOURISM

• Article 176 B
• 1. The Union shall complement the action of the
  Member States in the tourism sector, in
  particular by promoting the competitiveness of
  Union undertakings in that sector.
• To that end, Union action shall be aimed at
• (a) encouraging the creation of a favourable
  environment for the development of
• undertakings in this sector
• (b) promoting cooperation between the Member
  States, particularly by the exchange of good
  practice.
• 2. The European Parliament and the Council,
  acting in accordance with the ordinary
• legislative procedure, shall establish specific
  measures to complement actions within the
• Member States to achieve the objectives referred
  to in this Article, excluding any harmonisation
  of the laws and regulations of the Member States.

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Thank you for your attention

• Mathieu Hoeberigs
• http//ec.europa.eu/enterprise/services/tourism/in
  dex_en.htm