Sustainable Tourism within the EU Tourism Policy Cristina CALABRO' DG Enterprise and Industry, Tourism Policy Unit

Fourth meeting of the ARLEM's Commission for Sustainable Development (SUDEV), Brussels 16 January 2013 Date: in 12 pts

Content • Legal basis • Policy framework • Key principles and main axes of actions • Main initiatives on sustainable tourism

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Introduction • Tourism is a cross-cutting sector hence more than one economic activity • It contributes to a wide range of key EU objectives: • Sustainable Development • Economic Growth • Job Creation • Social and Regional Cohesion • Protection of natural and cultural heritage • EU citizenship • Peaceful relationships etc. Date: in 12 pts

Economic Importance of Tourism in the EU • €586 billion total turnover = 5% of EU GDP (indirectly 10% of EU GDP) • 1.8 millions of enterprises (mainly SMEs) • 9.7 millions of employees = 5.2% of total employment in the EU (indirectly 12%) • Tourism is the 3rd largest economic activity in the EU (after Distribution and Construction) Date: in 12 pts

Lisbon Treaty – Tourism as a new EU competence…. Title I, Article 6 TFEU •

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: […] (d) tourism

Title XXII, Article 195 TFEU •

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: •

encouraging the creation of a favourable environment for the development of undertakings in this sector;

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promoting cooperation between the Member States, particularly by the exchange of good practice.

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But… • EU Member States and their regions have full competence in the tourism field • EU competence = Complement, support and coordinate the action of the Member States in the tourism sector • No harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States

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Policy Framework - Communication COM(2010) 352 : « Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination - a new political framework for tourism in Europe »

The four axes of action: 1.Stimulating competitiveness - Increasing tourism demand 2.Promoting the development of a sustainable, responsible, and high quality tourism 3.Consolidating image and profile of Europe improving/diversifying supply and enhancing quality of services 4.Maximising the potential of EU policies and financial instruments - Mainstreaming tourism Date: in 12 pts

Promoting the development of a sustainable, responsible, and high quality tourism • A system of indicators for a sustainable management of tourist destinations • A European Charter for a Sustainable and Responsible tourism - charter should streamline existing charter initiatives into one single document setting broad principles of sustainable and responsible tourism • Cooperation between the EU and the main emerging and Mediterranean countries to promote sustainable and responsible tourism development models • A strategy for a sustainable coastal and maritime tourism Date: in 12 pts

Key challenges for the sustainability of EU tourism 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Reducing the seasonality of demand Addressing the impact of tourism transport Improving the quality of tourism jobs Maintaining and enhancing community prosperity and quality of life, in the face of change Minimizing resource use and production of waste Conserving & valuing natural/cultural heritage Making holidays available to all Tourism as a tool in global sustainable development

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European Destinations of Excellence “EDEN” Objectives:
Enhancing visibility of the emerging, non-traditional European tourist destinations of excellence
Rewarding sustainable forms of tourism
Creating a platform for the exchange of good practices at European level, while promoting networking between awarded destinations to persuade other destinations to adopt sustainable tourism development modes http://ec.europa.eu/eden

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European Destinations of Excellence “EDEN”
Based on national competitions resulting in the selection of a tourist “destination of excellence” under a special theme
100 EDEN destinations awarded since 2007
2013 topic for the selection of the EDEN destination: accessible tourism
EDEN network - composed of 100 EDEN destinations and possibly growing up to 200 including the runners-up
http://ec.europa.eu/eden

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Preparatory Action « Sustainable Tourism » (2009-2011) Objectives in first two years: • Promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism • Highlighting the increasing importance of cycling tourism, its benefits and regional economic impacts • Promoting a trans-border cycle-tourism trail, replacing the former iron curtain http://ec.europa.eu/iron-curtain-trail Date: in 12 pts

Iron Curtain Trail EuroVelo route 13 - 4 projects co-financed and implemented in 2011 aiming at elaborating the action plans and raising awareness for the development of the Iron Curtain Trail as EuroVelo 13 cycle route - 1 project focusing on EuroVelo 3 - St James Way

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1 project to Support to EuroVelo Network – central coordination EuroVelo is a project of the ECF (NGO) to develop a network of high-quality cycling routes connecting the whole continent. The routes can be used by long-distance cycle tourists, as well as by local people making daily journeys.

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Preparatory Action « Sustainable Tourism » Since 2011 - objectives enlarged. Promotion of trans-national thematic tourism products in the European Union as means of sustainable tourism development focusing on enhancement and promotion of transnational thematic tourism products such as: routes/itineraries/trails contributing to the development and promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism in Europe Result of the call for proposals: 5 projects awarded with grants (DanubeHIKE, Greenways4Tour, EuroVelo.com, LIMESTourism Connection and PER VIAM Pilgrim's Routes in Action - Via Francigena and the Pilgrimage Ways) Date: in 12 pts

Follow-up of the Preparatory Action « Sustainable Tourism »
3 year budget expired. Integration of some of its objectives in the activities financed under the EIP – Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme
2012 call for proposals: « Support to transnational thematic tourism products as means of enhancing competitiveness and sustainability of European Tourism » (total budget 1,250,000 EUR). Aim: Cofinancing actions to support transnational thematic tourism products having a high potential for sustainable development of the tourism sector, by improving their visibility and market uptake. 7 projects will be co-financed and implemented in 2013/2014. Date: in 12 pts

Calypso – Tourism for all! A voluntary initiative for facilitating low-season transnational tourism exchanges among the Member States, through the development of social tourism. 4 target groups: • • • •

Pensioners (>65) Youth (18 - 30 years) Disabled people Families facing difficult social circumstances

Web platform will be operational in July 2013. In the framework of the 2012 call for proposals on facilitating transnational low season tourism exchanges, two projects were awarded with grants. Date: in 12 pts

Seminar on sustainable tourism organised by DG ENTR in Brussels in June 2012 •

Main objectives: strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the MED countries on sustainable tourism, providing a forum for dialogue, debate, and exchange of good practices among all stakeholders

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60 participants representing 17 Member States of the European Union and 11 MED countries

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Presentations by several MED Countries, UNWTO, Plan Bleu, NECSTOUR, ASCAME, and by the Commission services (DG ENTR and DEVCO) and EEAS

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Main points stemming from discussions → Sustainability must be central in all tourism strategies, and is essential for competitiveness

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Commonalities in all strategies presented: Quality The fight against seasonality Diversification of products Respect for local communities The need to increase workers' skills Better knowledge of the sector needed to respond to emerging trends and new challenges
Monitoring and management systems
Information and branding
Fruitful discussions and positive feedback from all participants  All presentations available on http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/promoting-eutourism/euromed/index_en.htm







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Thank you for your attention

Contact: [email protected] Tourism Policy Unit website: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/tourism/ Calls for proposals: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/contractsgrants/calls-for-proposals/index_en.htm Date: in 12 pts