Tourism : Growth sector creating jobs, wealth and European understanding

It is tourism that brings the people of the EU together in appreciation of the richness of the EU's heritage and each other's culture. Tourism's contribution to the EU's employment and GDP is crucial and growing.

• More than 6% of the EU's GDP comes from tourism, with forecasts of 4% year-on-year annual growth to 2010.
• Tourism accounts for 6% of European jobs (approximately 9million). A further 1.85million jobs are expected to be created by 2007.
• The tourism industry is predominantly made up of SMEs, 92% of which employ less then 10 people.

(Figures from DG Enterpise and WTO)

Creating Employment : Realising tourism's potential

The creation of employment is a major policy objective for the EU - tourism is a key sector for job creation. but, to create those jobs, EU policy must recognise the needs of the industry.

• Whilst the EU tourism industry is growing, Europe is novertheless losing market share to other destinations. The EU accounted for 68.2% of international arrivals in 1970, faling to 59.6% in 1999.
• Excessive legislative, administrative, economic, fiscal and social measures impose unnecessary burdens on the European tourism industry. Thid inhibits the performance of the sector in its ability to create jobs and wealth.

For tourism to realise its potential to dreate jobs, there needs to be closer consultation between industry, policy makers and consumers to ensure EU policy promotes tourism enterprise.

NET strives for the creation of a barrier-free market in tourism services, both within the EU and throught the world within the framework of GATS.

NET seeks a tourism market within which consumers can be free to express their preference without hindrance. Omly through the removal of barriers can tourism fulfil its potential to create jobs, not least within small and medium sized enterprises.

Stimulating Growth : Realising tourism's potential

The impact of European measures on tourism must be assessed before theey are introduced. Responsibility rests with the European Commision to assess the impact of intiatives through cost-benefit analysis.

The Council of Ministers for Tourism should meet at least once during each Presidency, to identify and review the impact of EU measures on tourism.

One Commission services should be responsbile for all issues related to tourism, including :

• Co-ordination of all tourism policy issues withing the Commission.
• Reviewing all propsed EU measures in order to identify those which may impact on tourism.
• Consulting systematically with industry representatives as well as consumers and social partners. this consultation process should include cost-benefit analysis of all proposed measures. The procedure should be transparent, publicly acocuntable and enshrined in legislation.
• Communicating the progress if policy proposals through the European Parliament to the industry.

All Commission services should be readily accessible, transparent, and open to continuous and constructive dialgoue with the tourism industry.

The Parliament Committees should be encouraged to consult fully all affected parties prior to the publication of Opinions and Recommendations.

The Parliament Tourism Platform, which brings together MEPs and representatives of the tourism industry, consumers and social partners, should be promoted nhd strengthened by the European Institutions.