A3-0352/93

Resolution on tourism in the approach to the year 2000

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mrs Ferrer I Casals on Community policies, measures and action in the tourism sector (B3-1355/92),

-having regard to its resolution of 14 February 1992 on a Community action plan to assist tourism and the subsequent Council Decision of 13 July 1992 on a Community action plan to assist tourism,

-having regard to the Commission's communications on Community policies and measures affecting tourism (SEC(92)0701) and the Community resources available for tourism (SEC(92)0702),

-having regard to its resolution of 17 November 1992 on the fifth Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the opinion of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A3-0352/93),

A.whereas tourism is the largest industry in Europe, accounting directly for 6.5% of the Community's gross domestic product, an equivalent proportion of total employment with 8 million jobs, 7,5% of capital investment and 17% of consumer spending,

B.whereas the tourism industry has the potential to create sustained economic growth and jobs, thus contributing to the Community initiative for relaunching the European economy,

C.whereas the efficient operation of the internal market is a sine qua non for the expansion of tourism within the Community,

D.whereas economic and monetary union and the introduction of a single currency in particular constitute essential foundations for the expansion of tourism in Europe,

E.whereas, in addition to its economic aspect, tourism can play an indispensable role in the development of the individual and thus fulfil an educational, cultural and social purpose, by strengthening a sense of European identity and by fostering cooperation, particularly with the countries of central and eastern Europe and those on the Mediterranean,

F.whereas tourism advances economic and social cohesion in the Community by promoting economic development and employment in the less developed regions and contributing to the restoration of the trade balance in those areas,

G.whereas revenue from tourism contributes a substantial portion of the balance of payments in some Member States,

H.whereas tourism interacts with a wide range of Community policies, in particular transport, regional policy, environment and consumer protection, cultural policy and preservation of the cultural and natural heritage,

I.whereas mass tourism is an increasing factor in the growth of road and air traffic and more and more tourist areas are being threatened by large-scale motorway and airport projects,

J.whereas a coherent Community policy on tourism will require incorporation of tourism in the Treaty on European Union when it is reviewed in 1996,

K.whereas the seasonal and geographical spread of tourism is of importance to its development and in avoiding the disadvantages of the concentration of tourism for tourists, the industry and the environment in general,

L.whereas it is important to diversify the supply of new tourist products, to include, in particular, conference and incentive tourism, rural tourism, nature tourism and cultural tourism,

M.whereas increasing life expectancy and falling retirement ages worldwide are enabling senior citizens to enjoy more leisure time, thus making tourism for this group one of the potential areas of expansion in the sector,

N.having regard to the importance of youth tourism as a means of promoting mobility among young people in the Community, mutual understanding between cultures and greater awareness of the process of European integration among younger age groups,

O.having regard to the potential importance of 'social tourism', given that many social organizations, especially trade unions, possess their own infrastructures designed to support and facilitate holidays for workers - travel agencies, rest centres, camping grounds, etc. - and enabling the less well-off to make use of their right to holidays and tourism,

P.whereas many tour operators and tourists in western European countries are actively involved in sexual tourism and this business is damaging the human rights of children and women in some of the poorer countries,

1.(a)Calls on the Community and the Member States to remove the remaining obstacles to free, easy and safe movement of citizens between the Member States;

(b)Underlines the need for fiscal harmonization - particularly of VAT - for tourist activities and draws attention to the importance of introducing a single European currency for international tourism;

2.Calls for measures to complete the internal market to be continued, for instance:

-the final abolition of border checks or similar measures,

-genuine harmonization of the tax provisions applying to tourism and related activities,

-a harmonized hotel classification system,

-a new, more favourable environment for competition among the various tour operators,

-incentives for European transport companies (all modes) to adopt a business strategy to promote long-haul journeys within Europe,

-simplification of international payments and incidental charges (the eurocheque system being one case in which such action is required);

3.Hopes that exchange rates within Europe will be stabilized rapidly;

4.Underlines that tourism should be identified as a strategic economic development priority and that it should be given a specific status as an industry and funded in the Community budget, commensurate with its importance for economic growth, employment and social and economic cohesion, on condition that it respects the environment;

5.Underlines that while tourism is essential as an industry for the Community's economic growth, it is also an undeniable social factor, encouraging the recognition of diversity (of culture, topography and lifestyle) and the reduction of regional disparities; accordingly recommends that the appropriations allocated to this sector in the Community budget may also be used to promote such growth, which under the terms of Article 130r(2) of the EC Treaty and the fifth action programme on the environment must meet the requirements of social and environmental harmony;

6.Notes that the market in tourism does not operate to the automatic benefit of the less-developed or peripheral countries as the number of Community tourists increases, since the increases registered in those countries relate to specific forms of tourism and to particular market sectors, such as rural tourism, conference and incentive tourism, cultural tourism and nature tourism (farm holidays);

7.Believes that a European tourist policy should be concerned essentially with improving the quality of tourism, respect for the environment, the diversity of supply, access to tourism, and the global competitiveness of Europe's tourism, taking account of the principle of subsidiarity;

8.Believes that action by the Community should be aimed at encouraging cooperation between Member States and public, social and private bodies in the sector and at supporting and supplementing their action, especially to improve the environmental quality of tourism services offered and their promotion in major third countries;

9.Calls on the Commission to set up a European campaign in major third countries such as Japan and the United States to promote tourism in Europe, highlighting the richness of Europe's environment and heritage;

10.Believes that Community action should also encourage a new approach to tourism by promoting contacts with and between Community citizens, who increasingly want their leisure pursuits to take an active form;

11.Believes that the role of tourism in Community policies and in particular in the Structural Funds should be strengthened and asks for an extension of the action plan for tourism with the aim of:

-promoting private and public investment in environment-friendly tourism projects,

-stimulating exclusively those projects where tourism interests go together with the interests of the environment and architectural heritage,

-providing financial support for innovative projects, especially for the conversion of areas with serious problems caused by the unplanned growth of tourism,

-improving the quality of vocational training in the various sectors of tourism, and introducing suitably rigorous provisions for the recognition of such training under the relevant Community legislation,

-promoting environmental awareness and education among tourists, so as to ensure that all forms of tourism respect the environment,

-encouraging rural and social tourism;

12.(a)Urges the Commission to give higher priority to tourism in its organization by making DG XXIII responsible for the coordination of all Community policies for tourism and by allocating more staff to this sector,

(b)Insists that there should be systematic checking by DG XXIII and DG XI of all Community measures as to their implications for tourism;

13.Calls on the Commission to enhance the role of the Advisory Committee on Tourism and to ensure that, for practical purposes, expert representatives of the major tourist interest groups concerned are represented thereon;

14.Calls on the Commission to draw up a White Paper indicating how tourism policy could best be incorporated in the Treaty on European Union when that Treaty is next amended;

SPREADING OF TOURISM

15.Asks the Commission to establish without delay an international platform for the promotion of geographical and seasonal spreading of tourism. This platform would advise the competent authorities and institutions on how to promote a more balanced spread of school and work holiday dates, considering in particular:

-better coordination of dates, especially between neighbouring countries,

-introduction of optional days off for pupils,

-extension of short school breaks;

16.Asks the Commission to promote statistical surveys in each Member State to establish the holiday pattern of citizens and to make possible a forecast of travel trends in the Community for the coming years;

17.Welcomes the fact that the Commission, recognizing the need for improved knowledge of the sector, has at last launched a study of it, at the request of the Member States, and considers that this study, which is not incompatible with own-initiative and Member State-level studies, should be concerned primarily with spending patterns, consumer attitudes to supply, international market behaviour (with respect to generators and competitors) and the definition and monitoring of new tourism resources;

18.Is of the opinion that a European visa policy would help facilitate tourist travel by visitors from third countries;

CONSUMER PROTECTION

19.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to give higher priority to information and consumer protection and asks the Commission to make recommendations to ensure full cover for all medical expenses incurred by tourists, standardized costs of treatment in all Member States, and reimbursement of medical expenses incurred abroad, which needs to be simplified and speeded up;

20.Calls on the Member States to do everything in their power to prevent tourists falling victim to crime, and calls on the Commission to work towards harmonization of compensatory damages schemes;

21.Calls on the Commission to draw up Community rules to enforce safety standards in all forms of tourist accommodation and facilities;

22.Calls on the Commission to propose a balanced directive on the overbooking of tourist accommodation and a European harmonized system of classification for tourist accommodation;

23.Calls on the Commission to encourage tourist industry professionals to devise 'European' tourist products offering itineraries and stays in several different Member States;

24.Hopes that the European tourist industry, in particular the hotel industry, will equip itself with a comprehensive range of high-quality amenities in order both to secure the loyalty of Community tourists and to attract greater custom from non-Community tourists;

25.Invites the tourist undertakings to provide more attractive rates for single people, who are often charged an extra supplement for a single room, which could deter a single person from travelling;

26.Believes that tourism policy should give greater consideration to the needs and requirements of senior citizens and calls on the Commission to encourage reflection, and specific actions, relating to tourism for the elderly;

27.Urges the Commission and the Council to adopt a senior citizens' pass, preferably based on a means test, offering significant reductions on fares, tourism facilities and services;

28.Stresses the importance of ensuring full access to travel and tourism for all citizens and urges that tourist information and promotion material should provide a clear indication of services and facilities available to disabled people;

29.Invites the Commission to develop in cooperation with the organizations concerned minimum standards of accessibility for the handicapped, the elderly, etc. for transport and tourism facilities, and to consider the introduction of a silver seal for facilities fully respecting these standards;

30.Calls on the Commission to encourage travel by young people within Europe by introducing a 'young person's rail Europe card' providing reduced fares throughout the EC;

31.Calls on DGs VII, XI, XXI and XXIII of the Commission jointly to submit and implement a package to promote 'soft' modes of transport (such as cycling and public transport) in the tourist industry;

32.Calls on the Commission to devise an information campaign on the consequences of sexual tourism, and other measures to prevent this form of tourism, by mid-1994;

33.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission and to the governments of the Member States.