No C 19/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 1. 89 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Amended proposal for a Council Decision on an action programme for the European Tourism 
Year (1990) (') 
COM(88) 803 final 
(Submitted by the Commission under Article 149 (3) of the EEC Treaty on 5 December 1988) 
(89/C 19/10) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community and in particular Article 235, 
Having regard to the.proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the integrating role of tourism can be availed of 
in order to promote the achievement of the large area 
without frontiers of 1992; 
Whereas tourism promotes greater mutual knowledge of 
cultures and life styles of Member States among their 
citizens, especially young people; 
Whereas tourism represents an economic sector of major 
importance for Member States of the Community; 
Whereas the European Parliament in its resolution of 22 
January 1988 on the facilitation, promotion and 
financing of tourism proposed that 1990 be declared the 
European Tourism Year; 
Whereas the Ministers responsible for tourism stressed 
the importance of tourism for the completion of the 
internal market at their informal meetings of 6 May and 
3 September 1988; 
Whereas the most serious problem confronting tourism 
in Europe is its over-concentration in the high season 
with congestion of transport and accomodation services as 
(') OJ No C 293, 17. 11. 1988, p. 12. well as detrimental effects for the natural and man-made 
environment and under-utilization of capital and human 
resources in the low season; 
Whereas it is therefore important to encourage a better 
utilization of existing tourism infrastructure and 
equipment and that European Tourism Year should 
present a valuable opportunity of attaining this objective; 
Whereas European Tourism Year can promote greater 
awareness throughout the Community of the oppor­
tunities and benefits of all-year round tourism for the 
regions of the Community; 
Whereas efforts should be made during European 
Tourism Year to encourage citizens of all Member 
States, especially young people, to travel abroad to 
acquire greater awareness of the reality of Europe; 
Whereas specific powers for this purpose are not 
expressly provided for in the Treaty and Article 235 
must, therefore, be invoked, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
1990 shall be declared European Tourism Year. 
Article 2 
The objectives of European Tourism Year are to: 
— prepare the coming of the large area without internal 
frontiers using the integration role of tourism to 
advantage, 
— promote greater knowledge of cultures and life styles 
by citizens of Member States especially the young, 
25. 1. 89 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 19/7 
— stress the economic importance of the tourism sector 
in the completion of the internal market, 
— promote a better distribution of tourism over time 
and location, the staggering of holidays, alternatives 
to mass tourism and new destinations, 
— promote increased awareness of the importance for 
tourism of a high quality environment, 
— promote intra-Community and international tourism 
in Europe and improve the freedom of movement for 
travellers. 
These objectives will be pursued through coordinated 
activities of the Community, Member States and private 
organizations. 
Article 3 
The amount for the implementation of the programme 
for European Tourism Year, within the limits of appro­
priations included in the annual budget, is ECU 5 
million, subject to approval by the budgetary authority 
or any amendment which it might make. The 
arrangements for financing the programme are described 
in Annex I which forms an integral part of the present 
Decision. 
Article 4 
The Commission, in consultation with the steering 
committee, shall take appropriate measures to implement 
the programme, particulary in regard to the coordination 
of public and private tourism organizations in the 
Member States. Article 5 
The steering committee, shall be chaired by a represen­
tative of the Commission and comprise representatives of 
Member States. Representatives or professional tourism 
organizations at Community level will be invited to 
participate in the work of the Committee as observers. 
The Committee shall be consulted on the subject of the 
preparation and coordination of the activities mentioned 
in Annex I. 
At the request of the chairman or one of its members, 
the steering committee may consider any other question 
relating to the objectives mentioned in Article 2. 
Article 6 
Member States which wish to receive Community 
financial support for the pursuit of the actions mentioned 
in Article 2 will be invited to identify projects as 
mentioned in Annex I that are suitable for Community 
financing and to monitor their implementation and 
report to the Commission of the European Communities. 
Article 7 
The Commission shall inform the Council and the 
European Parliament of the progress of the work and 
shall submit a final report on the implementation of the 
programme to the Council and to the European 
Parliament. 
ANNEX I 
ACTIVITIES ENVISAGED FOR EUROPEAN TOURISM YEAR 
A. Activities without financial implications for the Community budget 
Voluntary action to be undertaken by public and private operators in the travel/tourism sector: 
— price reductions in transport and accomodation during the low season, 
— use of the common logo and slogan of European Tourism Year in regular publicity campaigns, 
— spread of information on European Tourism Year through the mass media. 
B. Activities cofinanced by the Community budget 
1. Pilot actions by public and private bodies to encourage new approaches to promote off-season 
tourism and cultural, rural and social tourism. 
Estimated cost ECU 1 000 000. 
No C 19/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 25. 1. 89 
2. Actions by public and private organizations to develop travel by young persons between the ages of 
15 and 25 aimed at greater knowledge of cultures and life-styles of other Member states. 
Estimated cost ECU 1 000 000. 
Financial assistance of up to 40 % of the cost of the operation could be granted. Applications for grants 
should be submitted to the Commission by Member States after they have made an initial choice of 
projects on the basis of potential efficacity to attain the objectives set out in the Decision. 
The Commission after receiving the opinion of the steering committee provided for in Article 5 of the 
Decision on the applications submitted by Member States in regard to eligibility, priority and, as far as 
possible equity of distribution at Community level, will inform the Committee of its decision to support 
or reject particular projects or request additional information. 
Decisions on grants will be taken quarterly by the Commission in respect of applications received in the 
preceding quarter according to the following table: 
Applications submitted during 
1st 
2nd 
3rd 
4th 
1st 
2nd quarter 1989 
quarter 1989 
quarter 1989 
quarter 1989 
quarter 1990 
quarter 1990 Decisions to be taken 
end of 2nd quarter 1989 
end of 3rd quarter 1989 
end of 4th quarter 1989 
end of 1st quarter 1990 
end of 2nd quarter 1990 
end of 3rd quarter 1990 
Projects selected for grants should be designated 'Community projects for European Tourism Year'. 
The competent authorities of the Member States shall have the responsibility for the control and 
carrying out of Community projects for European Tourism Year. 
On their completion, they shall submit payment applications to the Commission accompanied by a 
report on their execution and all necessary proof of costs incurred. 
C. Activities to be financed entirely from the Community budget 
1. Administrative expenses and year logo 
— remuneration of temporary staff engaged by the Commission, 
— rent of office and equipment for preparation of European Tourism Year 
— logo for European Tourism Year. 
Estimated cost 1989 ECU 300 000 
Estimated cost 1990 ECU 500 000 
2. Competitions and prizes 
Prizes for competitions shall be provided as follows: 
— Best organization of welcome of tourists by a town or village in each Member State, 
Estimated cost ECU 15 000 
— Best welcome for young people by youth hostel or similar establishment in each Member State, 
Estimated cost ECU 72 000 
— Best organization, presentation and promotion of three cultural itineraries involving several 
Member States, ' 
Estimated cost ECU 75 000 
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— Best artistic production by young people on the theme of travel in Europe: 
— one photographic competition 
Estimated cost ECU 45 000 
— one short film competition 
Estimated cost ECU 45 000 
— Best tourism display in a secondary school, 
Estimated cost ECU 24 000 
— Best drawing of travel in Europe in a secondary or primary school, 
Estimated cost ECU 24 000 
Total estimated cost ECU 300 000 
3. Information and publicity campaigns 
In the mass media of all Member States for off-season tourism, cultural, social und rural tourism and 
other means of information on alternative destinations. 
Estimated cost 1989 ECU 900 000 
Estimated cost 1990 ECU 1 000 000