WRITTEN QUESTION E-1995/02

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 July 2002)

Subject: Sustainable and cultural tourism in Europe

In accordance with the mandate of the Internal Market Council of 21 June 1999, the Commission, in close collaboration with the Member States, set up five working groups responsible for investigating the priority areas in which concrete action is needed. One of them is called Promoting environmental protection and sustainable development in tourism. On the basis of the conclusions and recommendations produced by the working groups, the Commission adopted, on 30 November 2001, a Communication Working together for the future of European tourism, which provides an operational framework for monitoring Community policies and activities based on a method of open coordination.

Can the Commission say what follow-up will be given to the Communication?

It also emerges that the Commission is carrying out a study on a early warning system for identifying declining tourist destinations and preventive best practices.

Is the Commission able to say what point has been reached in the study and provide a copy of the relevant document?

Last autumn the Commission was carrying out a study on the use of the natural and cultural heritage for the development of sustainable tourism in non-traditional tourist destinations, which will lay down basic guidelines for the development of sustainable tourism and offer conclusions and recommendations indicating the sources of funding for promoting the appropriate initiatives.

Is the Commission able to say what point has been reached in this research and a provide a copy of the study?

Finally, what forms of funding does the Commission envisage using for the cultural tourism sector and what priorities does it intend to develop?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 August 2002)

At the beginning of the year 2002, the Commission started launching the implementation of the measures proposed in its Communication Working together for the future of European tourism(1). Both the Parliament and the Council adopted Resolutions(2) endorsing the approach put forward in this Communication.

Regarding the two studies mentioned by the Honourable Member, the related work was recently finished. Summarised results are already available on the web page http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/services/tourism/policy-areas/studies.htm. Extensive publications will also be very soon available there, followed by printed copies.

As far as Community financing for cultural tourism is concerned, several instruments are available, in particular the Structural Funds, the area of Transport and Tourism under the Information Society Technology (IST) programme of the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, and the MEDA programme. They allow measures with a direct or indirect impact on tourism development. For example, they can help developing fields, such as economic growth, employment and regional development; improving quality and competitiveness of tourism relevant infrastructure, European tourism enterprises and tourist destinations; promotion of Europe as a set of attractive tourist destinations; raising awareness of cultural heritage both among tourists and local populations involved with tourism. For each instrument, the specific priorities are those favoured by the fund or programme concerned. The eEurope 2005 initiative includes actions on electronic services for culture and tourism.

(1) COM(2001) 665 final.

(2) European Parliament: P5_TAPROV(2002)0222, Texts adopted at the sitting of Tuesday 14 May 2002, PE 318.649/57. Council of Ministers: OJ C 135, 6.6.2002.