14.5.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 114/7 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council resolution on a better seasonal and geographical distribution of tourism 
COM(86) 32 final/2 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 31 January 1986) 
(86/C 114/10) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, 
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 Council resolution of 10 April 1986 on a 
Community policy on tourism (') invites the Commission 
to present proposals, notably with a view to facilitating 
tourism within the Community; 
Whereas tourism deserves special attention from the 
Member States and Community institutions because of 
its role in the economies of the Member States and its 
effect in terms of bringing together the peoples of 
Europe; 
Whereas tourism depends to a large extent on using the 
resources of the natural and cultural environment of a 
country to attract visitors; whereas these essential 
resources may deteriorate or even be destroyed if they 
are oversized; 
Whereas, in order to avoid or resolve saturation 
problems in tourist areas and transit areas, there is a 
need to measure capacity, to assess the risks of saturation 
and to take appropriate measures with regard in 
particular to the quality of the environment; 
Whereas the seasonal nature of tourist activities causes 
considerable inconvenience to the indigenous population 
and to visitors during short periods and under-
utilizazion of tourist facilities throughout the rest of the 
year; Whereas the most effective means of resolving the 
problems relating to the overloading of tourist areas and 
transit areas is a better seasonal and geographical 
distribution of tourist activities, 
IS DETERMINED to do all in its power to achieve a 
better seasonal and geographical distribution of tourist 
activities within the Community; 
INVITES the Member States to measure the capacity of 
tourist areas and transit areas and to assess the risks and 
effects of saturation during certain periods of the year, in 
particular by means of impact studies 
INVITES the Member States to discontinue any incentive 
to tourist development in areas or sites recognized as 
having reached a high level of saturation, to prohibit or 
discourage further construction in these areas or sites, to 
encourage administrative and decentralization measures 
reducing the causes of overload in these areas or sites, 
and to encourage tourist facilities in areas and sites 
where the risk of saturation is low; 
INVITES the national tourist boards and other competent 
authorities in the Member States: 
(a) to do less to promote saturated tourist areas and do 
more to promote areas with surplus capacity; and 
(b) to do more to promote alternative types of holidays, 
and holidays out of season, with respect to 
environmental needs; 
INVITES the Member States to collaborate with one 
another and with the Commission to coordinate efforts 
to achieve a better seasonal and geographical distribution 
of tourism. 
O OJ No C 115, 30. 4. 1984, p. 1.