# C_2021362EN.01005501.xml

| 8.9.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 362/55 |
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8.9.2021

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 362/55

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P9_TA(2020)0169

Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond

European Parliament resolution of 19 June 2020 on transport and tourism in 2020 and beyond (2020/2649(RSP))

(2021/C 362/07)

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to Rule 132(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure, |
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—

having regard to Rule 132(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas tourism is a cross-cutting economic activity with a wide-ranging impact on economic growth, employment and social and sustainable development; |
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A.

whereas tourism is a cross-cutting economic activity with a wide-ranging impact on economic growth, employment and social and sustainable development;

| B. | whereas the tourism sector employs 22,6 million people, equating to 11,2 % of total EU employment, contributed 9,5 % to EU GDP in 2019, helps to promote a balanced regional structure, and has a positive impact on regional development; notes that at least 6,4 million jobs are at risk in the EU; |
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B.

whereas the tourism sector employs 22,6 million people, equating to 11,2 % of total EU employment, contributed 9,5 % to EU GDP in 2019, helps to promote a balanced regional structure, and has a positive impact on regional development; notes that at least 6,4 million jobs are at risk in the EU;

| C. | whereas tourism, and especially overtourism, like all human activities, has an impact on climate change, as well as environmental and economic impacts such as increased pollution, loss of biodiversity, congestion, infrastructure maintenance costs and rising prices; whereas, however, the sector is committed to accelerating progress towards sustainable tourism development and to ensuring it contributes towards European and international climate goals through initiatives aimed at reducing emissions; |
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C.

whereas tourism, and especially overtourism, like all human activities, has an impact on climate change, as well as environmental and economic impacts such as increased pollution, loss of biodiversity, congestion, infrastructure maintenance costs and rising prices; whereas, however, the sector is committed to accelerating progress towards sustainable tourism development and to ensuring it contributes towards European and international climate goals through initiatives aimed at reducing emissions;

| D. | whereas tourism consists of a complex value chain of many stakeholders with a direct link to passenger transport activities; |
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D.

whereas tourism consists of a complex value chain of many stakeholders with a direct link to passenger transport activities;

| E. | whereas the transport, culture and tourism sectors have been the most negatively affected of all major economic sectors by COVID-19, with large-scale unemployment affecting, in particular, seasonal workers and those in vulnerable situations; |
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E.

whereas the transport, culture and tourism sectors have been the most negatively affected of all major economic sectors by COVID-19, with large-scale unemployment affecting, in particular, seasonal workers and those in vulnerable situations;

| F. | whereas cultural sites and venues, festivals and museums have been particularly badly hit by the health crisis, while four out of ten tourists choose their destination based on what it has to offer by way of culture; |
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F.

whereas cultural sites and venues, festivals and museums have been particularly badly hit by the health crisis, while four out of ten tourists choose their destination based on what it has to offer by way of culture;

| G. | whereas by adopting the communication on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond (COM(2020)0550) and the Tourism and Transport Package on 13 May 2020, the Commission took the first necessary step to support the recovery of our valuable transport and tourism sectors from the COVID-19 outbreak; |
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G.

whereas by adopting the communication on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond (COM(2020)0550) and the Tourism and Transport Package on 13 May 2020, the Commission took the first necessary step to support the recovery of our valuable transport and tourism sectors from the COVID-19 outbreak;

| H. | whereas it has been ten years since the Commission adopted the communication entitled ‘Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination — a new political framework for tourism in Europe’ (COM(2010)0352) in June 2010, which sets out a strategy and action plan for EU tourism; |
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H.

whereas it has been ten years since the Commission adopted the communication entitled ‘Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination — a new political framework for tourism in Europe’ (COM(2010)0352) in June 2010, which sets out a strategy and action plan for EU tourism;

| I. | whereas since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 the EU has supporting competences aimed at coordinating and complementing action in this domain by the Member States (1); |
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I.

whereas since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 the EU has supporting competences aimed at coordinating and complementing action in this domain by the Member States (1);

European tourism and transport recovery plans following the COVID-19 outbreak

| 1. | Believes that both swift, short-term support and long-term support to the transport and tourism sectors are necessary to ensure their survival and competitiveness, while implementing measures which give tourists the confidence to travel to and within Europe again is imperative for minimising additional losses in the sector, as well as for its longer-term sustainability; stresses that the current crisis also represents a historic opportunity to modernise tourism in the EU and make it more sustainable and more accessible for persons with disabilities, and to start considering it as an industrial ecosystem with investment targets, human capital, technological innovation needs and performance indicators, as well as a major sector which could contribute to reaching the 2050 climate neutrality goals; |
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1.

| 2. | Underlines that in the current crisis, when many transport companies are struggling for survival, it is of utmost importance to further invest in strategic transport infrastructure at EU level; stresses, furthermore, that recovery plans for transport, along with support aimed at saving existing transport sectors, should be focused on innovative growth opportunities; |
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2.

| 3. | Welcomes the communication entitled ‘COVID-19 — Towards a phased and coordinated approach for restoring freedom of movement and lifting internal border controls’ adopted by the Commission as part of the package, and the proposal for a phased and coordinated approach, aiming at returning to the unrestricted free movement of persons; asks that a mechanism be established at EU level to define the rate of a sufficiently low level of transmission, and that uniform application of such a rate be ensured across the EU; calls on the Commission to support the ‘restart of tourism’ with a recommendation to highlight ‘sustainable tourism’ and to make credibly certified businesses and destinations frontrunners for environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically sound travel and tourism; welcomes the Commission’s initiative aiming to ensure the continuous flow of goods, especially food and medical devices, across the EU and all initiatives aimed at ensuring the full functioning of the EU internal market without unjustified checks and delay; |
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3.

| 4. | Reiterates the importance of the principle of non-discrimination in the progressive lifting of domestic and cross-border restrictions, as well as the mutual recognition of the agreed measures at EU level, and stresses the importance of avoiding agreements between individual Member States (so-called tourism corridors), which would further impact the economy of those Member States that have been particularly affected by the health crisis, and in particular their tourism sector; is concerned about the fact that several Member States have recently imposed unilateral measures which not only might undermine the functioning of the single market and have a negative impact on the lives of millions of EU citizens, but also strike a further blow against tourism and confidence; urges, therefore, the Commission to prevent the implementation of any type of discriminatory and non-epidemiological measures by Member States, which call into question the integrity of the Schengen area and impede the swift recovery of Europe’s travel and tourism industry; |
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4.

| 5. | Stresses the need for the support and promotion of tourism areas in the EU through, among other things, attractive offers for visitors, provided that the epidemiological and socio-health conditions in the respective areas allow this; believes it is essential that all health, hygiene and sanitary requirements, such as social distancing measures, are fully respected and implemented by both businesses and their clients, in order to guarantee safe conditions for visitors; calls for uniform assessment criteria to be established throughout the EU in order to highlight the areas that represent safe environments for inbound and outbound tourism; supports the need for the highest levels of safety and security to be enforced and maintained, for which interoperable digital technologies could be used (for example, a dedicated Commission information website, or making use of the Digital Innovation Hubs) with a view to providing help for the travel and tourism industry and for tourists themselves while respecting individuals’ privacy and data protection rights; stresses that an early alert system that efficiently warns tourists about any potential health threat at their destination should be developed so that quarantine and evacuation protocols are immediate and effective; |
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5.

| 6. | Recognises the importance of international travellers to our tourism sector; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to assess whether restrictions on non-essential travel could be lifted at the external borders of the EU, without hampering public health and safety, taking into account the epidemiological situation in each respective third country and working towards the mutual recognition of COVID-19 protective measures, especially in aviation, following International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and the joint document from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) entitled ‘COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol: Operational Guidelines for the management of air passengers and aviation personnel in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic’ for the safe restart of air transport in Europe, and urges their swift implementation; |
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6.

| 7. | Stresses the importance of cross-border and seasonal workers for the provision of services in the tourism sector as a key component of the economic recovery effort, and calls for measures aimed at encouraging their mobility and protecting their rights, including better implementation of existing legislation; |
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7.

| 8. | Welcomes the Commission communication on ‘COVID-19: Guidelines on the progressive restoration of transport services and connectivity’, as well as the guidance based on a framework of principles and a common toolbox that will help with the resumption of transport services of all kinds across the EU by taking coordinated, non-discriminatory and proportionate measures; |
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8.

| 9. | Calls on the Commission and the Member States to agree on temporary, proportionate and non-discriminatory measures, that are in line with scientific evidence, to facilitate safe transit and country-to-country movements, based on a robust risk assessment, and in accordance with international standards defined by bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); highlights the importance of ensuring mutual recognition of the measures agreed at EU level for the resumption of EU and international travel; stresses, moreover, that the implementation of containment measures, as well as their easing, must at no time lead to a reduction of the high levels of EU safety and security standards in transport; |
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9.

| 10. | Underlines that screening is an effective means of reducing the spread of the virus and building confidence in cases where social distancing is not possible, provided that fast, reliable and affordable screening methods are available; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the ECDC and the Member States, to regularly evaluate the existence of tests meeting these conditions and, when available, to carry out coordinated procurement in order to ensure the best possible conditions and price; urges the Commission and Member States to use all available funding tools to ensure that citizens can be tested free of charge; |
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10.

| 11. | Highlights that travel restrictions and border controls should be lifted for the regions, areas and Member States where the epidemiological situation is improving and is sufficiently similar, once common criteria have been established to assess it; stresses that improvements in the epidemiological situation are key for restoring safe travel and transport and for resuming tourism services; calls, furthermore, on the Commission, in coordination with the Member States, to explore the feasibility and the added value of health screening measures such as diagnostic tests (e.g. serological or swab tests) and temperature checks on passengers departing from transport hubs; calls for standards and detailed protocols for common hygiene measures to be established for the various modes of transport; considers that each transport operator should apply uniform measures in a harmonised way so as to provide predictability and clarity; considers that technical operational protocols should be made a prerequisite for safe travel; |
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11.

| 12. | Welcomes the Commission communication on ‘COVID-19: EU Guidance for the progressive resumption of tourism services and for health protocols in hospitality establishments’ and urges Member States to share this guidance with competent authorities at regional and local level; calls on the Commission and the Member States, in this regard, to support the travel and tourism sector financially in the implementation of these measures, in full cooperation with the tourism and travel industry and in line with the ambitions of the European Green Deal and digitalisation; |
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12.

| 13. | Calls on the Commission to create an EU safety certification seal and clear and effective health protocols, guaranteeing that EU tourism facilities, travel establishments and operators meet the highest hygiene and safety standards, in cooperation with Member States’ public authorities, tourism stakeholders and international organisations, with the aim of encouraging the implementation of specific measures based on the EU guidance, enhancing the confidence, security and safety of travellers who visit the EU Member States and fostering the sector’s recovery; |
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13.

| 14. | Calls on the Commission to propose common EU rules on the terms and conditions of the vouchers issued related to COVID-19 while maintaining a high level of consumer protection, always conditional on their voluntary acceptance by consumers and without affecting the obligation for companies to reimburse their travellers within the timeframe as provided for by EU law, in order to make vouchers more flexible and thus more attractive and viable, and to prevent another patchwork implementation resulting in the different treatment of consumers and in distortions of competition in the transport and tourism market; urges, moreover, the Commission to use all the means at its disposal to ensure the proper enforcement and uniform application of EU law, and to promote the use of harmonised rules on voluntary vouchers; |
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14.

| 15. | Calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of elaborating, based on the experience of the COVID-19 crisis and Member States’ similar schemes, a European Travel Guarantee scheme for companies to secure financial liquidity in order to guarantee refunds to travellers as well as repatriation costs, together with fair compensation for any damages incurred in the event of bankruptcy; moreover, is of the opinion that travellers should be encouraged to take out travel insurance; |
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15.

| 16. | Calls on the Commission to launch a dedicated EU communication campaign on travel and tourism, including through an EU-wide information app, aiming at promoting intra-EU travel, re-establishing citizens’ confidence in travel and tourism during COVID-19, educating tourists on the health and safety measures in place and building sustainable and cohesive values through an ‘EU Tourism Brand’; calls for the concept of ‘safe and smart destination’ to be central to ensuring the development of sustainable, responsible and accessible tourism; |
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16.

| 17. | Requests that a mechanism be put in place at EU level for establishing a threshold, based on scientific evidence and reliable and uniform data, for safety and security when it comes to lifting or introducing travel restrictions and that an appropriate level of monitoring and an action plan be prepared for any negative development regarding the epidemiological landscape; emphasises, in that regard, the need for a more concrete and detailed action plan on monitoring and evaluating the proposed phased exit strategy for getting out of the COVID-19 crisis; |
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17.

| 18. | Calls on the Commission, Member State public authorities and stakeholders to cooperate in order to establish clear guidelines and preparedness action plans for a potential second wave of the pandemic as soon as possible, addressing infection prevention and control measures for travel and tourism, given that extended lockdown measures could lead to a 16 % drop in GDP this year according to projections; |
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18.

| 19. | Welcomes the SURE programme, which helps Member States cover the costs of national short-time work schemes and similar measures allowing companies to safeguard jobs in the tourism industry; highlights, furthermore, the importance of investing in reskilling, digital skills training and job support initiatives, which will prevent ongoing job losses and social inequalities due to the pandemic; |
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19.

Enhanced solidarity and coordination in the EU tourism sector

| 20. | Highlights the importance of moving towards a genuine European tourism policy that will significantly contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the Union in this sector, promoting cooperation between Member States and regions and creating possibilities for further investments and innovations in the sector; recalls the importance of avoiding overregulation within the single market for tourism services, with the objective of removing and preventing regulatory contradictions and duplications, by ensuring better coordination of policies and legislation affecting the tourism sector; |
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20.

| 21. | Welcomes the Commission proposal to organise a European tourism summit involving the EU institutions, industry, regions, cities and stakeholders, in order to reflect on the European tourism of tomorrow, and supports the development of a 2050 roadmap towards a sustainable, innovative and resilient European tourism ecosystem (‘European Agenda for Tourism 2050’); calls on the Commission, therefore, to adopt a new strategy and action plan for EU tourism in 2021 based on the outcome of this dialogue, in order to maintain Europe’s standing as a leading destination through an ‘EU Tourism Brand’; stresses that this long-term strategy must include a plan for digitalising the sector and schemes to regenerate tourist areas; stresses that the strategy must support the green transition of the sector by adapting processes and renewing infrastructures and facilities; underlines that the Commission should closely monitor its proper implementation; |
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21.

| 22. | Welcomes the Commission’s initiative providing for flexibility under State aid rules; insists, however, on the need for viable projects and competitiveness and social and ecological standards as well as for clear and sector-specific guidance in the transport and tourism sectors to allow effective coordination between all Member States, and to ensure that national compensation schemes are used in a fair, timely and proportionate manner, and are put in place for a limited duration, with the aim of tackling the losses caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, without unduly distorting competition; |
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22.

| 23. | Highlights the importance of enhanced cooperation between EU, national, regional and local authorities and all relevant stakeholders, with a view to addressing cross-cutting tourism-related issues; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to establish an EU Tourism Strategy, including a more concrete and detailed action plan with short-, medium- and long-term objectives, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and proposing that Member States set clear, strategic and results-oriented objectives; insists that a proper strategy for sustainable tourism be adopted in coordination with Parliament and the Member States, which includes measures to be applied and observed by all Member States, industries and tourists; |
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23.

| 24. | Stresses that the proposal for an EU Recovery plan presented by the Commission on 27 May 2020, which includes a reinforced long-term EU budget (MFF 2021-2027) and a new recovery instrument of EUR 750 billion which should be conditional on implementing structural reforms and respecting ecological and social standards, serves as a good basis for further negotiations; welcomes the recognition of tourism as one of the economic activities worst affected by the COVID-19 crisis; notes that the new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, outlines that tourism could see a more than 70 % drop in turnover in the second quarter of 2020, while the basic investment needs in tourism, comprising EUR 161 billion, rank first among the various ecosystems; calls on the Commission to accord due importance to the tourism sector in the recovery package and to issue guidance to ensure swift access to funding, without being hindered by any disproportionate administrative burden, under both ongoing and upcoming programmes: highlights, in this context, the importance of investments in this sector through the Recovery and Resilience Facility which will allow the development of a strategy for a sustainable, flexible and competitive tourism sector across the EU; considers that the EU Recovery plan must include the possibility of providing additional financial support to the tourism sector on the basis of the share that the travel and tourism sector contributes to a Member State’s GDP; |
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24.

| 25. | Regrets the absence of a dedicated budget line on sustainable tourism in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF 2021-2027), and regrets the current lack of a concrete and targeted financial instrument, in the short term, to help the sector’s recovery; stresses that special treatment and specific measures should be considered for outermost regions (RUPs) and island regions; |
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25.

| 26. | Calls on the Commission and the Member States to urgently support businesses and workers, including self-employed workers, in the transport, culture and tourism sector, especially SMEs, and including macro businesses and family-run businesses, to manage their liquidity, help them to maintain jobs and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens; calls, furthermore, for a European framework to be developed for workers across the entire value chain of the tourism industry, in close dialogue with social partners and covering all types of workers; |
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26.

| 27. | Calls for a revised European SME strategy that would take into account the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs and put forward concrete recovery initiatives with a roadmap to support them by reducing red tape, cutting the costs of access to finance, and fostering investments in strategic value chains in line with the European industrial policy based on ecosystems, the Green Deal and the digital transition; recalls the need for making the necessary adjustments in order to comply with new health and safety measures, providing substantial investments to ensure the safety of consumers and the respect of social distancing, and other relevant precautionary measures; emphasises the importance of creating networks and clusters across the EU, which have the potential to lead to the harmonisation of best practices, strategies and synergies within the SME sector; |
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27.

| 28. | Stresses that thousands of companies, in particular SMEs, are struggling to survive, while many of them are facing insolvency; calls on the Commission and Member States to monitor developments and assess the possibility of enhanced emergency support, in relation to the instruments already announced, by taking appropriate measures to avoid the bankruptcy of businesses; |
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28.

Towards a future-proof EU tourism sector

| 29. | Stresses that the tourism sector is highly dependent on the transport sector, and that therefore improving the accessibility, sustainability and connectivity of all modes of transport, while maintaining the highest level of safety in all transport sectors (road, rail, aviation, maritime and inland waterways), would have a significant impact on enhancing the EU tourism sector; emphasises, in this regard, in the context of 2021 being the European Year of Rail and the need to reduce transport emissions, that the Commission should promote all sustainable alternative modes of travel; |
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29.

| 30. | Highlights the need to foster sustainable modes of travel such as providing increased support to tourist cycling infrastructure and night trains; stresses the economic and environmental benefits that sustainable transport modes such as cycling can have for tourism, and calls on the Commission to promote and invest in cycling infrastructure to facilitate such tourism; |
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30.

| 31. | Highlights the necessity for all Member States to have a network of developed, modern, safe and sustainable infrastructure, in order to facilitate travel across the EU and to make the peripheral Member States more accessible for intra-European and international tourism; calls therefore on the Commission to support the reinstatement of cross-border missing links, to carry out fitness checks on the existing infrastructure network, and to propose immediate additional measures for the least advanced areas and remote areas, which often have the least well-developed networks and need particular attention; notes that border regions throughout the EU make up 40 % of the EU’s territory and a third of its population; calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States have appropriate planning to complete the entire TEN-T core by 2030 and comprehensive networks by 2050, indicating the schedule and budgetary availability, and to focus particularly on cross-border sections, especially in Member States which are not progressing in these areas; points out that this includes the much-needed Single European Sky project, which, although it has been stalled at EU level for many years, would bring safety, efficiency and sustainability to European aviation at once; |
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31.

| 32. | Calls on the Commission to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of a crisis-management mechanism (CMM) for the EU tourism sector, in order to respond adequately and swiftly not only to the current COVID-19 outbreak, but also in order to prepare for future challenges of a similar nature and magnitude; stresses the importance of including funding solutions for short-term financial shortages and also providing for medium- and long-term frameworks and strategies; calls on the Commission to issue guidelines based on best practice in the tourism sector in the event of large-scale crises such as the current pandemic, and to facilitate the development and coordination of adequate online platforms where stakeholders can exchange best practice and share information; |
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32.

| 33. | Urges the Commission to propose a new European inclusive tourism scheme following the model of the Calypso initiative, enabling vulnerable social groups to use national tourist vouchers in associated establishments in other Member States which also offer a social tourism programme to their citizens; notes that many Member States are implementing such programmes with very good results and believes that it would be very positive to make these schemes interoperable at EU level; |
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33.

| 34. | Points out the importance of a common EU approach on safeguarding the competitiveness of the sector by improving its communication strategy towards citizens; further emphasises the EU’s coordination role for the tourism sector, which should be improved by taking EU added value actions and further facilitating the exchange of best practice among Member States; calls for reductions in unjustified administrative and fiscal burdens, support for the creation of businesses, and the promotion of cross-border sales and services; |
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34.

| 35. | Highlights the importance of international cooperation in the travel and tourism sector and encourages the EU institutions to continue to foster dialogue and cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); |
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35.

| 36. | Considers that the emergence of new technologies and further digitalisation would considerably boost the attractiveness of the travel and tourism sector, and that user-friendly platforms and new business models would enhance the growth, competitiveness and prosperity of the sector; believes, therefore, that regular training and the reskilling of the existing workforce in the sector is of the utmost importance, with a specific focus on digital skills and innovative technologies; |
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36.

| 37. | Invites the Commission to evaluate the possibility of establishing an online visa application process, while at the same time maintaining the strong protection of European borders, as a means of attracting an increased flow of international tourists to Europe; notes that the outbreak of COVID-19 has revealed the necessity of embracing innovation and of re-conceptualising the delivery of services, including those that allow for enhanced people-to-people contacts; invites the Commission, therefore, to examine the opportunities for remote, low-cost and time-efficient e-visa access to Europe’s tourist destinations for bona fide third-country nationals who require visas and whose biometric data would be collected in any event once the Entry-Exit System has become fully operational; |
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37.

| 38. | Points out the importance of promoting sustainable tourism, contributing to job creation, to the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems and biodiversity, and to growth and competitiveness, by building on new business models; calls on the Commission to facilitate access to EU funding for tourism stakeholders, in particular small hospitality providers in all segments of the market, which must receive particular attention and support; affirms that such funding should support the shift towards more sustainable, innovative, resilient and high-quality tourism products and services, and further contribute to sustainability, out-of-season travel and the geographical dispersion of tourism flows; believes that support and coordination at Union level must be provided to improve tourism administration at national, regional and local level, inter alia by introducing tourism sustainability certification; stresses the importance of promoting a shift from overtourism to other forms of cultural and sustainable tourism which respect our environment and our cultural heritage; |
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38.

| 39. | Highlights the importance of tourism for certain countries and geographical areas of the EU, where tourism-related services are often an important factor in securing employment and are one of the main sources of income for the local population; calls on the Commission to draw up tailor-made measures when restoring freedom of movement and transport links between the outermost regions and islands and the EU mainland; points out that specific connection lanes and additional financial and administrative support are of the utmost importance for these regions; stresses the importance of developing a coastal and maritime focus in the EU tourism strategy and initiatives, including financing opportunities and promotional and communication tools, as well as strengthening the functioning of relevant markets, by establishing custom-made policies in cooperation with destination stakeholders and authorities; recalls the importance of supporting family businesses which develop local or regional markets and promote local tourism, since they account for a significant proportion of European private-sector employment and constitute the natural incubators of an entrepreneurial culture; |
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39.

| 40. | Recalls that cultural tourism accounts for 40 % of all European tourism and that 68 % of Europeans say that the presence of cultural heritage, which includes cultural routes, among them the Way of St James (‘Camino de Santiago’), which in 2021 will celebrate a Jubilee or Jacobean Year, has an influence on the choice of their holiday destination (2); calls on the Commission, therefore, to propose that the Member States set clear strategic and operational results-oriented objectives in the next Work Plan for Culture, and to improve the current strategic framework for culture; stresses that investments in cultural sites should be seen and treated as a resource to improve competitiveness and growth at local level, without forgetting their intrinsic value as part of our cultural heritage that needs to be protected, especially from climate change and overtourism; calls on the Commission to strengthen the financial sustainability of cultural sites funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and to encourage the development of funding schemes that build on private funds; calls furthermore for a budget increase for Discover EU, a programme that has the potential to considerably boost youth tourism; highlights the specific needs of the cultural institutions receiving public aid during this period of recovery, since they need to ensure visitor safety and sustain their economic model; asks the Commission to find alternative support mechanisms for the cultural workers who are heavily dependent on functional tourism; |
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40.

| 41. | Highlights the benefits of rural and agro-ecotourism, and calls on the Commission to further promote and support initiatives which would generate additional income sources for rural areas, create job opportunities, prevent depopulation and increase the social benefits; stresses the role that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) can play, especially the LEADER programme, in supporting local and rural tourism initiatives, and calls for this programme to be adequately funded for the 2021-2027 programming period; considers it necessary to reinforce agri-tourism in rural areas in order to diversify the sources of farmers’ revenues, particularly for smallholdings, and thereby prevent land abandonment and depopulation and support the rural economy; stresses, in this regard, the need to ring-fence a specific allocation for agri-tourism, which plays an essential role in the diversification of farmers’ revenues and in the development of rural areas; |
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41.

| 42. | Points out the importance of health tourism, comprising medical, wellness and spa tourism; calls on the Commission to promote, when appropriate, European health prevention, balneology, sustainable and mountain medical tourism; highlights the need for further investment in improving the sustainable tourism infrastructure, and the importance of enhanced visibility for European resorts for spa and wellness tourism; calls on the Commission to make provision for further science-based funding opportunities, as medical tourism may help to reduce health costs through prevention measures and lower pharmaceutical consumption, and would further improve sustainability and labour quality; |
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42.

| 43. | Underlines the importance of accessibility of travel and tourism services for the ageing population, as well as people with disabilities and people with functional limitations; calls on the Commission and the Member States to actively drive the ongoing development of the International Organisation for Standardisation’s standard on accessible tourism services and to ensure that it is swiftly and correctly implemented once adopted, and that service providers respect the relevant accessibility standards that are already in place or are in the process of being implemented; calls on the Commission, furthermore, to make efforts to facilitate the possible wider implementation and recognition of the EU Disability Card; |
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43.

| 44. | Underlines the major role sport plays in tourism, recalling the important place of sporting events and activities in making Europe’s regions attractive to tourists; highlights the opportunities arising from travel by athletes and spectators to sports events, which can attract tourists to even the most remote areas; highlights the importance of Europe’s gastronomy, gastronomic routes and HORECA sector for the tourism industry and the economy as a whole; stresses that the above must therefore be integrated into the overall tourism strategy; |
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44.

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| 45. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the Commission, the President of the European Council and the Presidency-in-Office of the Council. |
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45.

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(1)  Article 195(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

(2)  Special Eurobarometer 466 — Cultural Heritage, 12/2017.

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