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(2004/C 33 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0794/03

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2003)

Subject:   Coordination, integration and marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services as an additional measure under Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999

Farm holidays secure both agricultural and non-agricultural revenue and jobs, satisfy the growing demand in many sections of the population for nature-based forms of tourism, promote understanding between the urban and rural population and contribute to the protection of nature and the environment. This type of rural holiday is also a particularly good way of raising holidaymakers', and therefore consumers', awareness of the origins and nature of agricultural products. To a great extent, farm holidays or tourist services provided by rural businesses fulfil the guidelines for sustainable development connected to the Community's policy on rural development.

The success of farm holidays very much depends on marketing. Businesses and their regional and national marketing organisations have to contend with stiff competition, sometimes on a very limited budget. It is true that, up to now, support (including at Community level) for marketing work has brought nothing but success, but the supply potential for this kind of rural holiday has not yet been exhausted. At the same time, competition from alternative types of holiday and non-European destinations is increasing.

If farm holidays are to continue to contribute to employment and the regional economy in rural areas, as well as to consumer awareness, and if this contribution is to increase in the future, then marketing efforts must be stepped up and professionalised particularly in the industry-wide organisations created for this purpose.

Does the Commission also see the need for increased action in terms of more specific support for the marketing of farm holidays, and can this be ensured by the inclusion of the additional measure of ‘coordination, integration and marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services’ in Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (1)?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 (2) foresees in its article 33, financial support for the adaptation and development of rural areas. In particular, the 10th indent of this article establishes support for ‘encouragement for tourist and craft activities’. The term ‘encouragement’ can cover not only investments to facilitate the provision of these tourist activities (e.g. investments in farm houses to accommodate visitors, or investments in leisure activities such as mountain sports) but can also include measures to promote rural tourism and activities, for example, by tourism offices and through marketing/advertising campaigns.

The support to this kind of measures is granted through the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)-Guidance in Objective 1 areas (the programming instruments will be Single Programming Documents or Operational Programmes) or through EAGGF-Guarantee in regions not included in Objective 1 (in this case, the measures will be included in the rural development programmes).

During the programming period 2000-2006, support given to measures included in article 33 (which includes other measures apart from rural tourism) amounts to approximately 25 % of EAGGF — Sections Guarantee and Guidance. The mid-term evaluation of rural development programmes which will take place in 2003 will help to determine the importance and the impact of actions financed in the domain of rural/green tourism.

The Community Initiative Leader+ (3) finances pilot rural development strategies decided and implemented by the local actors. In this framework and on condition that it fits into the approved development strategy of a particular local Leader group, Leader+ can also finance marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services as this kind of measures can be included in its four thematic priorities: the use of know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive; improving the quality of life in rural areas; adding value to local products; and making the best use of natural and cultural resources.

Leader+ also includes support for networking and co-operation between rural territories (inside the same Member State or from different Member States). The phase of co-operation between local action groups is just starting and could also include exchange of experiences and specific projects on marketing of rural tourist accommodation and services, these activities being of increasing importance in the rural areas of the Union.

The Member States and/or the regions have already financed this type of activities. Therefore, as the actual community instruments (Rural Development Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 and Community Initiative Leader+) already cover the possibility of financing measures relating to marketing of tourist activities, the Commission does not consider it necessary to include a new measure in Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999.

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(1)OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 of May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations.

(3)  Commission notice to the member states of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development (Leader+). OJ C 139, 18.5.2000.

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