Strategies
to make EU tourism destinations competitive by embracing
sustainability will be the focal point of discussions at the
6th European Tourism Forum, which
takes place tomorrow in Portimao, Algarve in
Portugal.
At the occasion of this conference, European Commission Vice
President Günter Verheugen will present the awards to the
winners of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN)
tomorrow. At the forum the European Commission will also present
its new communication launching a strategy to foster sustainable
and competitive tourism in Europe. It invites all stakeholders to
strengthen the contribution of sustainable practices to making
Europe the most attractive tourism destination.
Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for
enterprise and industry policy, said: “The success and growth potential
of Europe as a tourist destination of the future will depend on
our capacity to preserve and reinforce the assets of Europe
through a combination of reasonable development and innovation of
the tourism product."
Ministers of Tourism from Member States as well as Portuguese and
European tourism authorities will participate in the European
Tourism Forum to discuss the following topics:
-
management and conservation of the natural and
cultural heritage;
-
management of resources and waste;
-
sustainable management: corporate responsibility
for competitiveness and job creation.
On Friday 19 October 2007, the Commission launched the
“Agenda for a
Sustainable and Competitive European Tourismâ€, which
follows on the renewed EU Tourism Policy (see IP/06/344). In order to achieve a
competitive and
sustainable development of tourism in Europe the
Commission invites all actors to embrace the following
principles:
-
Take a holistic and integrated approach:
All the various impacts of tourism should be taken into account
in its planning and development.
-
Plan for the long term:
Sustainable development is about taking care of the needs of
future generations as well as our own. Long term planning
requires the ability to sustain actions over time.
-
Achieve an appropriate pace and rhythm of
development:
The level, pace and shape of development should reflect and
respect the character, resources and needs of host communities
and destinations.
-
Involve all stakeholders:
A sustainable approach requires widespread and committed
participation in decision making and practical implementation
by all those implicated in the outcome.
-
Use best available knowledge:
Policies and actions should be informed by the latest and best
knowledge available. Information on tourism trends and impacts,
and skills and experience, should be shared across
Europe.
-
Minimise and manage risk:
Where there is uncertainty about outcomes, there should be full
evaluation and preventative action should be taken to avoid
damage to the environment or society.
-
Reflect impacts in costs:
Prices should reflect the real costs to society of consumption
and production activities. This has implications not simply for
pollution but for charging for the use of facilities that have
significant management costs attached to them.
-
Set and respect limits, where appropriate:
The carrying capacity of individual sites and wider areas
should be recognised, with a readiness and ability to limit,
where and when appropriate, the amount of tourism development
and volume of tourist flows.
-
Undertake continuous monitoring:
Sustainability is all about understanding impacts and being
alert to them all the time, so that the necessary changes and
improvements can be made.
The Commission's Agenda aims at strengthening a voluntary and
continuous process. It should be promoted by all tourism
stakeholders in Europe: the different levels of government –
local authorities, destination management organisations, regions,
Member States – , businesses, tourists and all other bodies
that can stimulate (trade unions, universities, research
establishments, ...).
The Communication also contains a message of commitment by the
Commission to this Agenda process. It builds the framework for
the implementation of supportive European policies and actions in
the tourism domain and in all other policy areas which exert an
impact on the development of tourism and on its
sustainability.
The European Destinations of Excellence
(EDEN) Awards Ceremony will also be held in Algarve on
the 26th October, with the participation of the winning
destinations from across Europe. Both the European Tourism Forum
and the EDEN Awards Ceremony will be web-streamed live from
Algarve on the 26th October by following this
link
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/services/tourism/forum_algarve_2007.htm
Background
Tourism is one of the economic activities with most significant
potential to generate future growth and employment in the EU. In
its narrow definition, tourism currently contributes some 4% to
EU GDP, varying from about 2% in several new Member States and
12% in Malta. Its indirect contribution to GDP creation is much
higher - tourism indirectly generates more than 10% of EU GDP and
provides about 12% of all jobs.
