PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTIANNUAL PROGRAMME ( 1991-93 ) FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNITY TOURISM STATISTICS
Date: 1990-05-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, EU statistics, tourism

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(90) 211  final 

Brussels, 22 May 1990 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the implementation of a imiltiannual programme  (1991-98) 
for developing Community  tourism statistics 

(presented by the Commission) 

Explanatory memorandum 

Following the Council resolution of 10 April 1984, the Commission sent the 
Council on 31 January 1986 a communication on Community action in the field 
of tourism, together with three proposals which, the Council adopted on 
22 December 1986. 

With reference to statistics in particular, the Commission takes the view 
that existing statistics on tourism are patchy and based on different 
definitions and collection practices, with the result that comparisons 
between Member States are very difficult and Community consolidations 
impossible.  Accordingly, the Statistical Office of the European 
Communities (Eurostat) will shortly be undertaking, in collaboration with 
experts from the Member States, the necessary methodological studies to 
assess the feasibility of a harmonized system. 

In its resolution of 22 January 1988 on the promotion and funding of 
tourism, the European Parliament laid special stress on the Community's 
role in publishing statistics, opinion surveys and information on tourism. 

At their informal meeting in Glucksburg on 6 May 1988, the ministers 
responsible for tourism once again emphasized the importance of harmonizing 
tourism statistics in order to afford public and private operators in the 
industry a good insight into the situation and trends on the internal 
market. 

At the Council meeting of 14 December 1988, at which the action programme 
for European Tourism Year was established, the Commission stated that it 
was aware of the need for reliable information in order to develop 
Community action in the field of tourism. 

At the seminar held by the tourism ministers at Lanzarote on 8 May 1989, 
participants expressed their wish to analyse and monitor the effects on 
tourism of completion of the single market in 1992 (with special reference 
to taxation, consumer protection and the external dimension of European 
tourism).  Most of those present were in favour of Community action on 
tourism statistics. 

The need for statistics on tourism in the Community, to provide the 
industry and governments with reliable information, was also underlined at 
the informal meeting of tourism ministers held at Ashford Castle on 
10 March 1990.  The Commission was invited to present a proposal on the 
subject. 

In line with the conclusions adopted in May 1986 by the Conference of the 
Directors-General of the National Statistical Offices, Eurostat convened a 
working party on tourism statistics to examine the nature and feasibility 
of the proposed system, which was devised in close coordination with the 
World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the OECD. 

1/ 

- 2 -

Action on tourism statistics is being stepped up in several Member States. 
Such new efforts should be based on a common framework, in order to avoid 
duplication and ensure that statistics are homogeneous. 

Since not only Community institutions but also national administrations and. 
private operators need tourism statistics, their requirements should be 
taken into account when such statistics are developed at Community level. 

The difficulties encountered by the WTO and the OECD in collecting 
consolidated data on a voluntary basis highlight the need for Community 
action. 

The statistical data available in each of the Member States do not provide 
a suitable basis for comparison, because of the differences between the 
laws, rules and administrative practices of the Member States to which they 
relate. 

Analysis of existing tourism statistics reveals the need to improve and 
further develop the methodology for collecting data on supply in the 
tourist industry in order to give Member States a reference framework for 
more effectively harmonizing and developing their statistics in the field. 

Most Member States carry out surveys of individuals or households with a 
view to obtaining the main holiday indicators.  Such an approach focuses on 
the demand side and makes it possible to evaluate only the demand for 
tourism among residents of a particular country.  The lack of a common 
methodology at European level makes it difficult to group together the 
findings of holiday surveys and greatly restricts their use, at Community 
as well as national level.  The introduction of a Community methodology, to 
be applied by all Member States, would make it possible to evaluate 
European tourism from the standpoint of both demand in Member States and 
the habits of tourists from non-member European countries. 

Several Community measures in the statistical field take in tourism.  The 
use and development of the resulting data with the aid of a methodology 
specific to tourism would provide a more effective monitoring tool without 
incurring additional data collection costs. 

In view of the above-mentioned difficulties, measures to improve statistics 
on tourism can only be phased in gradually. 

It is on such a basis that this proposal for a Council Decision has been 
drawn up. 

3 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 

on the implementation of a multiannual programme (1991-93) 
for developing Community tourism statistics 

(90/.../EEC) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 
and in particular Article 213 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 

Having regard to the proposal fro» the Commission, 
Whereas Council Decision dô/aefc/ESC1 established a consultation and 
cooperation procedure in the field of tourisn; 

Whereas  tbe  resolution of the European Parliament of 22 January 1988 on the 
facilitation, promotion and funding of tourism in the European Community2 
stresses the Community's role in publishing statistics, opinion surveys and 
information on tourism; 

Whereas (completion of the single market heightens the need for reliable, 
rapid and comparable data based on Community criteria; 

Whereas the business environment of firms in the tourist industry should be 
improved by ensuring better analysis and dissemination of information at 
Community level; 

Whereas a Ccanmunity reference framework for tourism statistics should be 
devised to provide the most appropriate concepts and methods for satisfying 
the information requirements of users; 

Whereas efforts should be made  at Community level to ensure the 
comparability of statistical data on tourism already available in the 
Member States; 

Whereas the workload involved in collecting data from businesses should be 
reduced wherever possible through more extensive use of tourist demand 
analysis and the development of appropriate basic statistical tools, while 
ensuring the quality and consistency of the Community statistical 
information system; 

Whereas Article 5 of the EEC Treaty places Member States under the 
obligation to assist the Commission in carrying out its tasks and that to 
this end, Member States must make available to the Commission the tourism 
statistics in l&eir possessionk; 

Whereas Council Decision 89/382/EBC, Euratom of 19 June 1989 established a 
Statistical Programme Committee of the European Ocsnmunities, this Committee 
carries out the functions devolved to it by the provisions decreed by the 
Council in the field of statistics; 

OJ NO L 384, 31.12.1986, p. 52. 
O J N oC 340, 31.12.1986, p. 1. 

h 

2 -

Whereas the sura of appropriations allocated annually for this task should 
be stipulated within the financial perspective attached to the 
Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 June 1988 ;3 whereas the appropriations 
actually available will be determined during the budgetary procedure in 
accordance with the said Agreement, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

Article  I 

The aim and action plan of the multi annual programme (1991-93) for 
developing European tourism statistics (hereinafter referred to as "the 
programme") are hereby approved. 

Article 3 

The aim of the programme mentioned in Article 1 shall be the definition and 
implementation of a Community frame of reference for Oammunity statistics 
on tourism,  by the approximation of the oonoepts and methods already used 
by the Member States. 

Article 3 

With a view to acheiving the objective referred to in Article 2, the 
following work shall be oarrled out in line with the action plan set out in 
the Annex: 

The Commission shall: 

(a) analyse and evaluate users' needs with regard to tourism statistics; 

(b) analyse existing systems in the Member States; 

(c) prepare a Community methodological framework for statistics on tourism; 

(d) collect and disseminate existing data on tourism. 

Article 4 

The Member States shall ascertain and analyse the needs of the main 
national users and hold consultation meetings at national level. The 
Commission will coordinate these activitiers following consultation with 
the Statistical Programme Committee instituted by Council Decision 
89/382/EBC, EURATOM Of 19.6.1989.4 

3  OJ No L 185, 15.7.1988, p. 33. 
4  OJ No L 181, 28.6.1989. 

S 

- 3 -

Article 5 

For the work referred to in Article 3, Member States shall supply the 
Commission with existing statistics on tourism and any information it may 
require concerning the methodology used for collecting such statistics. 

Article 6 

The Commission shall present to the Council before the end of 1992: 

(a) a report evaluating the outcome of the work referred to in Article 3; 

(b) the conclusions prompted by the report as to the development of the 

information system required for Community tourism statistics after 
1992. 

Article 7 

1. The sum of the appropriations allocated annually for this task is fixed 

in the framework of the annual budgetary procedures. 

2. The budgetary authority shall determine the appropriations available for 

each year. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Article 8 

Done at 

For the Council 

6 

ANNEX 

STATISTICAL ACTION PLAN 

1991-^93 

(a) Analysis and evaluation of users' needs with regard to tourism 

statistics 

Collection and analysis of the needs of the main users, i.e. the 
Community institutions, national administrations, international 
organizations and economic operators. 

The analysis should take into account long-term needs and completion of 
the single market in 1992, to allow long-term planning and convergence 
of statistical efforts at national and Community level. 

Determination of users' needs will require the broadest possible 
consultation of the parties concerned, to be achieved through 
coordination by Member States at national level. 

(b) Analysis of existing systems in the Member States 

- Analysis of supply in the tourist industry; 

- Analysis of tourist demand; 

- World data on non-member countries (sources: WTO, OECD) to monitor 
the Community's development against that of the rest of the world; 

- Data from other statistical projects with a bearing on tourism. 

(c) Preparation of a Community methodological framework for statistics on 

tourism 

The aim is to establish a reference framework for statistics on 
tourism, covering both existing data and additional data collections. 
It will be used as a basic harmonization tool for developing official 
European statistics and as a recommended basis for non-official 
statistics. It will relate to: 

> 

- 2 -

(1) supply in the tourist industry (the infrastructure and its use); 

(2) tourist demand (surveys of long-term patterns in extended holidays 

and short-term trends in the mobility of travellers: leisure 
tourism, business trips, etc.); 

(3) utilization of data from other statistical sources, such as data on 
rural tourism, prices, tariffs, costs, and the contribution of 
tourism to the balance of payments and regional development. 

(d) Collection and dissemination of existing data on tourism 

The aim is to collect and regularly disseminate data on tourism. 
Modern electronic transmission techniques will be used for data 
acquisition.  Given the diversity of the available data, the system 
will be supplemented by a documentary database. 

3 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT on: 
Developing Community tourism statistics 

1. Budget heading: 

B 58 

Item: 

B 5870 

Title: 

Tourism-related measures. 

2. Legal basis: Article 213 of the Treaty establishing the EEC 

3. Classification:  Non-cœmpulsory expenditure 

4. Objectives: 

Promoting the harmonization of concepts and methods and establishing a 
European reference framework for tourism statistics. 

Work: 

(a)  Analysis and evaluation of statistical needs; 
(b)  Analysis of existing statistical systems in the Member States; 
(c)  Methodological developments and recommendations; 
(d)  Collection and dissemination of existing data. 

5. Method of calculation 

5.1 Form of expenditure: Financing of methodological work, data collection, 

production and dissemination of the information. 

5.2 Community contribution: Financing of work carried out by Eurostat and 

DG XXIII: 100%. 

5.3 Calculation: Provision of services (consultants, experts): 

ECU 1 million. 

6. Financial implication as regards operating appropriations 

6.1 Schedule of commitment and payment appropriations (ECU) 

1990 

1991 
1992 
1993 
1994 

480 000 
280 000 
240 000 

Subsequent years 

— 

340 000 
340 000 
250 000 
70 000 

— 

TOTAL 

1 000 000 

1 000 000 

6.2 Financing during current year: Some work is being part-financed in 1990 

through the partnership between Eurostat and DG XXIII. 

7.  Observations: the above amounts will be decided annually within the 

framework of the budgetary procedure and depending on funds available. 

IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM 
Impact on businesses, with special reference to SMEs, 
of the proposal for a Council Decision 
on developing European tourism statistics 

1. Administrative obligations for businesses 

The Decision would not impose any additional obligation on businesses, 
since the data to be collected are already available in the 
Member States. 

2. ^vantages for businesses 

The Decision provides for the setting-up of a system for disseminating 
the collected data; in the run-up to the creation of a common market in 
tourism, businesses therefore stand to gain from greater market 
transparency, enabling them to operate more efficiently. 

In concrete terms, this will make it possible to reduce the costs of 
converting statistical data and provide a better reference framework for 
studying supply and demand in the tourist industry. This is particularly 
important for SMEs, which do not always have access to information 
concerning developments and changes in the industry. 

/<> 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM (90) 211 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16 

Catalogue number : CB-CO-90-217-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-60307-0 

PRICE 

1-30 pages: 3.50 ECU 

per additional 10 pages: 1.25 ECU 

Office for Official  Publications of the European Communities 

L-2985 Luxembourg