Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism
Date: 2001-01-17
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, EU statistics, data collection, information system, statistical method, tourism

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 17.1.2001
COM(2000) 826 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

on the implementation of Council Directive 95/57/EC
on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword ............................................................................................................................... 3

I.

II.

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

III.

3.1

3.2.

3.3.

IV.

V.

Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3

Implementation of the Council Directive .................................................................. 4

Development of an information system on tourism statistics..................................... 4

Data collection and treatment ................................................................................... 5

Dissemination of results ........................................................................................... 6

Methodological follow-up ........................................................................................ 6

Legal framework ...................................................................................................... 7

Progress by section of the Directive.......................................................................... 7

Capacity of collective tourist accommodation: local units on national territory ......... 8

Occupancy in collective accommodation establishments: domestic and inbound
tourism ..................................................................................................................... 9

Tourism demand: domestic and outbound tourism (excluding day-trips)................. 11

Overall assessment ................................................................................................. 14

Future outlook ........................................................................................................ 14

Annex 1. Legal framework.................................................................................................. 16

Annex 2. Summary table by country and by section of the Directive ................................... 17

Annex 3. Financial contribution to Member States .............................................................. 24

2

FOREWORD

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

This report refers to the implementation of Council Directive 95/57/EC1 on the
collection of statistical information in the field of tourism.

Chapter II of the report summarises the actions undertaken during the period
1996-1999 in terms of development of an information system, data collection,
methodological follow-up and legal framework. The table in Annex 1 supplements
the information about the legal framework.

The progress by section in Member States following the structure of the Directive is
described in Chapter III. Developments during the period 1996-1999 are included.
The summary table in Annex 2 supplements the information presented in this
chapter.

Chapter IV introduces considerations of a general nature concerning the overall
assessment of the implementation of the Directive. The result
is a positive
assessment. Nevertheless, there is an analysis and discussion of certain problems, in
the progress achieved in
particular
implementing the Directive, delays in data transmission from some Member States to
Eurostat and delays in assessing in-depth the quality and reliability of the results.

those relating to the consolidation of

A future outlook is made in chapter V. It recommends continuing the implementation
of the Directive; particularly to concentrate on examining the quality, reliability and
comparability of the data, encourage regular data transmission and increase the
dissemination of the results.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The Council Decision 90/665/EEC of 17 December 19902 initialised the work on tourism
statistics at Community level by identifying four main actions to be carried out, namely; the
analysis and evaluation of the long-term needs of the main users with regard to tourism
statistics, the collection and dissemination of existing data on tourism, the analysis of the
systems that exist in Member States and in international organisations, and the preparation of
a methodological reference framework for compilation of Community tourism statistics.
Further development work conducted by the Commission on tourism statistics has been
supported by the Council Decision 92/421/EEC of 13 July 19923 on a Community action plan
to assist tourism.

The needs of the users in the private and public sector for reliable and comparable statistics on
tourism demand and supply at Community level available at short notice (as expressed in the
results of the implementation of the Decision 90/665/EEC), led to the development of the
Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information
in the field of tourism. The aim of this Directive is to establish an information system on
tourism statistics at Community level. To this end, Member States shall carry out the
collection, compilation, processing and transmission of harmonised Community statistical

1

2

3

OJ L 291, 6.12.1995, p. 32.
OJ L 358, 21.12.1990, p. 89.
OJ L 231, 13.08.1992, p. 26.

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information on tourism supply and demand. The Directive indicates that Member States shall
take all the measures necessary to make the Community information system operational in
adapting their national systems of tourism statistics to the technical requirements specified in
the annex of the Directive.

The Community provided in an initial phase of the implementation process a financial
contribution to the expenses incurred by the Member States in adapting the national systems
to the Directive. This contribution was limited in time.
facilitating
experimentation with, or implementation of, collection methods and systems meeting the
statistical
financial
contribution expired, Member States should be in a position to transmit regularly to the
Commission, according the transmission deadlines specified in the Directive, the requisite
information according to the methods and systems put in place.

indicated in the Directive. When this

information requirements

It was aimed at

Article 8 of Council Directive 95/57/EC provides that the Commission shall present to the
European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the
experience acquired in the work carried out pursuant to this Directive after data have been
collected over a period of three years. Data collection started in 1997 (covering the first
reference period 1996) and has now been collected for three years. This report is presented in
accordance with this provision. It provides an overall view of the progress of the various
actions undertaken by the Commission and the Member States, an initial assessment of the
results obtained and proposals for pursuing the implementation process.

II.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNCIL DIRECTIVE

The Directive has implied several actions undertaken by Member States and the Commission
(Eurostat) to prepare for the new data set to be collected, treated and disseminated. In Eurostat
this has implied in particular the design and implementation of a new information system at
Community level, regular data collection with standardised questionnaires, aggregation and
dissemination of EU-totals, following the methodological developments in Member States
and allowing for an exchange of experiences in order to achieve comparable statistics, and
finally establishing implementing measures in a legal context to ensure the appropriate
implementation of the Directive in Member States. The following actions have been carried
out during the period 1996-1999. The table in Annex 1 supplements the information about the
legal framework.

2.1

Development of an information system on tourism statistics

One of the initial actions undertaken by Eurostat was the design and establishment of a new
information system on tourism statistics, in accordance with the contents and structure of the
Directive. An Access based tool was developed, which allows for the storage, treatment and
calculation of data, as well as possibilities for an easy extraction into Excel tables. The system
became operational during 1997.

The classification plan for the production database on tourism statistics, "TOUR", was created
fully in line with the Directive. It allows for eight main dimensions, namely Declaring
territory (national and regional level), Indicator (the variables), Measurement (currency, %),
Unit (unit, thousands, millions), Activity (type of establishment), Purpose (holiday, business),
T-info (various breakdowns, e.g. by gender, age, transport used) and Partner (country of
origin/destination).

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The information system was created also with the possibility to store statistics linked to
tourism, such as balance of payments (travel and passenger transport items), employment in
hotels and restaurants and economic statistics.4 At present the "TOUR" database contains 49
different tables with more than 400,000 figures in total. Of these there are 29 specific
Directive tables and these represent around 350,000 figures. Time series range from 1980 to
present, with a large increase of data availability starting from 1996 and 1997 when the new
Directive tables were introduced.

2.2

Data collection and treatment

Linked to the establishment of an information system on tourism statistics was the launching
of a regular data collection, following the transmission deadlines as specified in the Directive
transmission of
(article 7). This article indicates that for monthly and quarterly data,
provisional results from Member States to Eurostat should be done not later than three months
after the end of the reference period, and for final results not later than six months. For annual
data, provisional results should be transmitted to Eurostat not later than six months after the
end of the reference period, and for final results not later than 12 months.

In order to facilitate the transmission of data between Member States and Eurostat 29 standard
transmission tables were created, following the structure of the Directive. These tables specify
how the data should be tabulated in fixed rows and columns in order to allow for efficient and
automatic treatment of the figures in the Eurostat information system.

The standardised transmission tables provided the basis for the creation of electronic
questionnaires (in Excel format), which were distributed to the Member States and should be
used when transmitting data to Eurostat. A special programme, TADI (Tourism Automatic
Data Input), has been developed by Eurostat to be able to automatically read the questionnaire
files received from data suppliers into the information system on tourism "TOUR".
Concerning data transmission most of the files are transmitted electronically, either via the
Eurostat transmission tool "STADIUM", which allows for an easy identification of received
files, or via e-mail.

The procedure for treatment of data has several phases. Firstly, a general validation is done,
detecting specifically data format problems. Secondly, a more detailed validation is
effectuated, with the aim at controlling the contents, the breakdown, the totals, comparison
with previous series, etc. This phase is currently lengthy and time-consuming and there are
plans to automatise it to a larger extent in order to permit for plausibility, cross-table and
other controls in a quicker and more efficient way. Finally, various calculations are being
undertaken (e.g. EU aggregates, conversion into Euro, calculation of different ratios).
Throughout the data treatment procedure regular contacts are made with data suppliers in
Member States.

4

This data collection is based on the following legal acts: Council Regulation (EC, EURATOM)
No 58/97 of 20 December 1996 concerning structural business statistics (OJ L 14, 17.1.1997, p.1);
Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term business statistics
(OJ L 162, 5.6.1998, p. 1); Council Regulation (EEC) No 3711/91 of 16 December 1991 on the
organisation of an annual labour force sample survey in the Community (OJ L 351, 20.12.1991, p.1);
Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 of 9 March 1998 on the organisation of a labour force sample
survey in the Community (OJ L 77, 14.03.1998, p.3).

5

Eurostat has during 1999 introduced a procedure for monitoring data transmission delays.
This enables to identify, by country and by transmission table, the latest available data,
eventual gaps in time series, taking into account requested derogations. At present, this is
handled in a manual way and is therefore very time-consuming and difficult to up-date with
high periodicity, but this should be automised in short and thus allow being up-dated more
regularly.

2.3

Dissemination of results

Data collected in the frame of the Directive has been regularly disseminated since 1997. In
particular, "Tourism in Europe - Key figures" has been published on a yearly basis (in May or
June) including data from the previous three years on the capacity of collective tourist
accommodation, utilisation of bed-places, resident and non-resident guest flows and travel
receipts and expenditure.5 Other publications are a Statistics in Focus on tourism, published in
February 1999, including recent tourism trends for 1997 and 1998.6 Tourism statistics is also
regularly used in other, more general Eurostat publications, such as "Eurostat Yearbook",
"Europe in Figures", "Eurostatistics" and "Monthly Panorama of European Business".

The tourism domain in the Eurostat reference database "New Cronos" was completely
restructured in 1998 to reflect the contents and structure of the Directive. This has allowed a
wide range of users to have access to the statistics via the Eurostat Datashop network. Data
suppliers in Member States and European institutions have free access to this database.

Part of the planned regular dissemination programme on tourism statistics is an annual edition
of "Tourism statistics Yearbook" (CD-ROM) and "Tourism in Europe - Trends", a more
analysis-oriented publication on tourism supply and demand covering the previous four years.
Some estimations of missing data have been calculated for dissemination purposes, but more
work is needed to carry out this exercise on a regular basis in order to ensure timely up-dates.

2.4

Methodological follow-up

Following the adoption of the Directive, it was agreed by the Eurostat Working Group on
tourism statistics to produce a progress report showing the methodological developments in
the Member States on implementing the Directive. The progress report should be up-dated
regularly, allow for comparisons between countries and provide the basic monitoring tool for
the Directive implementation process. Thus, the progress report aims to fulfil two objectives:
firstly, to monitor the progress made by the Member States concerning the implementation of
the Directive on tourism statistics; secondly, to improve knowledge and exchange experiences
and best practices between Member States about data collection methods and existing
statistical systems on tourism.

The progress report is in line with Article 8 of the Directive, which stipulates that Member
States shall provide the Commission at its request with all the information necessary to
evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information as well as
details of any subsequent changes in the methods used. Member States have provided
Eurostat with information to prepare the progress report through completed questionnaires on
existing data collection systems in the EEA countries and the reports made by the Member
States in relation to their contractual obligations to Community funding. The report has been

5

6

"Tourism in Europe - Key figures 1997-1998", (1999), Eurostat. "Tourism in Europe - Key figures
1996-1997", (1998), Eurostat "Tourism in Europe - Key figures 1995-1996", (1997), Eurostat.
"Inbound tourism flows rising in Europe", (1999), Statistics in Focus, Eurostat.

6

up-dated on a regular basis and Member States have been asked to verify, modify and
complete the information.

In 1996 a practical manual on the application of Eurostat methodological guidelines on
tourism statistics was produced.7 This manual provides the basic concepts, guidelines for
collection and survey design in order to comply with the Directive.8 In 1998, as part of the
implementing measures of the Directive, the definitions of the variables were established.
Moreover, work has also been done on drafting technical manuals on methodological issues
considered particularly difficult in the implementation process, for example data collection on
business tourism. In addition, Eurostat has also elaborated a technical manual on harmonised
data collection on private tourist accommodation, since this represents an important part of
the supply of tourist accommodation in many Member States. To further encourage the
exchange of experiences between Member States in the implementing process of the
Directive, a methodological workshop was organised in 1999. The workshop allowed for the
identification of common problems relevant for the implementation of the Directive and
proposals for concrete actions to be taken to further proceed in the implementation process.

2.5

Legal framework

Concerning the procedures for implementing the Directive, the following measures to be
decided upon within the Statistical Programme Committee procedure (articles 11 and 12 of
the Directive), have been established: the definitions to be applied to the data collection
characteristics (article 3), the detailed rules for data transmission procedures (article 7) and
the derogations to be granted to Member States (article 10).9

Further implementing procedures within the Statistical Programme Committee procedure will
concern accuracy requirements and the harmonised processing of systematic biases (article 4),
processing of data (article 6) and dissemination of the results (article 9). (See also Annex I of
this report)

III.

PROGRESS BY SECTION OF THE DIRECTIVE

The implementation of the Directive, to which contracts between Member States and the
Commission have provided a financial contribution, has led to several adaptations, changes
and methodological implications of different character for the national statistical systems in
the EEA countries. With the financial assistance provided in the frame of the contracts, the
EEA countries have developed their national tourism statistics, with the aim of guaranteeing
and where necessary consolidating the data collection and transmission to Eurostat. Apart
from the direct impact of the financial contributions there has in many countries also been an
indirect effect in stimulating the allocation of own resources to consolidate the national
statistical system, especially in the perspective of carrying out data collection on a regular
basis. Work has been undertaken to extend existing surveys, introduce new surveys where

7

8

9

"Applying the Eurostat methodological guidelines in basic tourism and travel statistics", (1996),
Working document, Eurostat.
This practical manual is in line with the Community Methodology on Tourism Statistics, published
1998 by the European Commission, giving a broad methodological framework for collection of tourism
statistics.
Commission Decision (1999/35/EC) of 9 December 1998 on the procedures for implementing Council
Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism (OJ L 9,
15.1.1999, p. 23)

7

necessary, harmonise definitions and methods, and other changes to comply with the
Directive requirements.

3.1

Capacity of collective tourist accommodation: local units on national territory

3.1.1

Extending the coverage of existing registers on accommodation establishments

In order to improve their quality of the statistics produced, many countries have worked on
extending the coverage of their existing registers on tourist accommodation establishments.

Belgium worked on compiling an inventory of the different types of accommodation and
linking their accommodation register with other administrative sources, notably the general
business register. This has lead to a better coverage of the accommodation types at NUTS III
level and to more detailed information.

France has worked on extending the register of classified hotels to gather also a complete list
of hotels classified 0 stars.

The Netherlands has worked on completing and updating their existing register as well as
building up a register
to cover all accommodation establishments according to the
requirements of the Directive.

Ireland has worked on creating a new tourism accommodation register consisting of all units,
unique to either the business register of the Central Statistical Office or that of the Irish
Tourist Board. In the past, the only existing register was that of the Tourist Board which
covered only the approved accommodation sector.

Austria has also set up a tourism satellite register on tourist accommodation establishments,
which is linked to the general business register.

Italy as well has worked on setting up a tourism satellite register based on the existing tourism
accommodation register and linked it to the general business register (ASIA).

In the case of the United Kingdom, work has involved improving the existing tourism
accommodation registers of the regional tourist boards to provide data at NUTS III level, and
controls and crosschecks ex-post are being undertaken with the general business register of
the Office for National Statistics.

In the case of
Iceland, work has
involved completing and updating its existing
collective
accommodation register, particularly building up a
accommodation establishments such as sleeping bag accommodation, youth hostels,
accommodation in private homes and highland lodges.

for other

register

Norway has worked on improving their existing register on hotels and similar establishments.

3.1.2.

Building up new registers on collective accommodation types

In order to cover all the types of collective accommodation covered by the Directive, a
number of countries have had to build up totally new registers for certain types of
accommodation.

This is notably the case of Spain and Portugal, which have built up a register of tourist
apartments (holiday dwellings).

8

Ireland has built up a register on non-approved bed and breakfast establishments.

France has worked on building up a register on non-classified hotels.

3.1.3.

Revising the definitions and classification breakdown of collective accommodation

Many countries have worked on revising their existing classification of accommodation
establishments, the structure of their database and the surveys in order to comply with the
Directive.

This is notably the case for Austria, which before included rented houses and flats (holiday
dwellings) under hotels and similar establishments, and is now including them under other
collective accommodation.

Iceland has worked on doing a total review and modification of its classification of
accommodation types in order to be compatible with the Directive. This has led to a total
revision and reorganisation of Iceland’s accommodation database, and existing information
has also been revised according to the classification breakdown of the Directive.

Italy has been working on the classification of the collective accommodations making an
types at regional and provincial level. New
inventory of all the existing establishment
establishment types, such as bed and breakfast and farmhouse accommodation are now
specifically classified according to Eurostat guidelines.

Norway as well has been working on examining carefully the dividing lines between the
different accommodation types to establish its tourism accommodation breakdown in line
with the Directive.

3.2.

Occupancy in collective accommodation establishments: domestic and inbound
tourism

3.2.1 Adapting and extending existing surveys

Adapting the geographical breakdown of non-residents

Many countries have worked on revising and extending their existing questionnaires on guest
flows in accommodation establishments to cover all the countries listed in the geographical
breakdown of non-residents, e.g. Austria, Denmark, Spain, Greece, France, Italy, Netherlands,
Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Introducing the collection of new variables

Many countries have worked on adapting their existing survey to collect additional
information in their questionnaires.

In Denmark work involved extending the existing Danish hotel survey to collect information
on the net use of bed-places as from January 1996, and concerning arrivals in camping sites
an agreement has been made with the Danish Camping Sites Association to produce reliable
estimates for this variable. Indeed, for many countries this exercise has involved collaboration
with the professional associations involved. Greece, Finland and Spain have extended their
existing hotel statistics surveys to collect information on the gross use of bed-places places.

9

Luxembourg extended from 1998 the data collection to include also the number of bed-places
and the net and gross utilisation of bed-places.

Netherlands has worked on a system for estimating arrivals and overnight stays at pitches on
extended or permanent lease.

In the case of the United Kingdom, where information on guest flows in accommodation
establishments is collected by the demand side approach, the variable arrivals was introduced
into the existing survey.

In the case of Iceland,
flows in accommodation
the existing questionnaire on guest
establishments has been extended to include also the variable arrivals since 1995. From
January 1997 Liechtenstein started to collect data on the number of bed-places in camping
sites.

3.2.2.

Setting up new surveys, designing new questionnaires

In order to cover all the types of collective accommodation covered by the Directive, a
number of countries have had to set up totally new surveys and design new questionnaires.

Portugal and Spain have started new surveys on holiday dwellings.

France has worked on setting up a new survey to collect information on guest flows in 0 star
hotels, and on the elaboration of a questionnaire for this purpose.

Greece has revised and extended its existing surveys and questionnaires on guest flows in
accommodation establishments to meet all the information requirements of this section of the
Directive.

Ireland launched in January 1997 a new sample survey and questionnaire on guest flows in
accommodation establishments based on the Central Statistical Office’s new tourism
accommodation register. This new survey was launched in January 1997.

Italy has worked on restructuring and simplifying its existing monthly survey on tourist flows
in accommodation facilities with the aim to alleviate the response burden on local tourist
authorities and substantially reduce the time required for transmission to ISTAT. The new
survey started in January 1997.

In the case of Sweden, a new survey on guest flows in holiday dwellings has been set up.

The United Kingdom has created an occupancy survey which has involved harmonising and
enhancing the various occupancy surveys run by the National and Regional Tourist Boards.

In Iceland work has involved restructuring the monthly survey on guest
accommodation establishments to extend the regional breakdown to NUTS II level.

flows in

3.2.3. Data processing, quality and timeliness

To meet the data quality requirements and transmission deadlines of the Directive many
countries have worked on technological and methodological improvements.

10

Technological improvements

Italy has worked on redesigning and improving existing computing procedures for data
capture and processing (e.g. automatic control of errors), as well as elevating the burden on
respondents, by simplifying their data collection process. ISTAT now receives micro-data
from territorial bodies by e-mail or by other telematic tools. This is part of the Eurostat SERT
project (Statistiques d'Entreprises et Reseaux Telematiques), which aimed at sending data
through telematic network for part A and B of the Directive from tourist establishments to
territorial bodies and then to ISTAT. ISTAT has used the standard RDRMES to send/receive
the data from/to the regional institutions and the hotel enterprises.

France, for managing data on non-classified hotels, has developed a computer programme
capable of drawing up the sample of the hotels to be surveyed, processing and compiling the
data received, calculating the occupancy rates and producing estimates for non response as
well as those not surveyed.

Ireland has built up totally new database programmes capable of storing, managing and
controlling the extensive sets of data that is now being collected with regards to the new
accommodation register, the new survey on accommodation statistics and the new household
survey on tourism demand.

Netherlands has developed a programme on electronic data gathering (questionnaire on
diskette to be filled in by the respondents).

Sweden has also worked on improving computing procedures, including the design of a new
programme to improve imputation for estimates for non-response, as well as introducing
electronic questionnaires for collecting data from the Swedish Camping Sites Association.

Norway has developed a new computer system for data processing and quality control, as
well as procedures for imputing missing data for non-respondents.

Methodological improvements

Italy has started to use a new system to estimate provisional data, namely a method of
imputation of missing data (average firm method).

France has taken measures to optimise the sample sizes, to improve the precision of the
results by a better definition of the stratification criteria, as well as modifying the collection
frequency (monthly/quarterly) in relation to the variable.

To speed up the entire process of data handling, Netherlands has changed its data collection
approach from a cut-off integral population approach to a stratified sample population
approach with a grossing up method by making use of advanced imputation techniques.

3.3.

Tourism demand: domestic and outbound tourism (excluding day-trips)

3.3.1

Adapting and extending existing surveys on tourism demand

When possible, countries have built on their existing systems and adapted their existing
surveys to meet the requirements of the Directive. This has meant in general increasing the
frequency of the surveys, extending the questionnaires to cover all the variables of the
Directive, and in some cases enlarging the sample size.

11

For Austria, this meant running an additional “Microcensus - Travel habits of Austrians”
tourism demand (previously only conducted every three years) and
survey on annual
extending the questionnaire.

Spain has worked on adapting and revising its existing survey ‘Vacaciones de los espanoles’
which resulted to be a new survey called ‘FAMILITUR’. The work involved modifications in
the questionnaire and methodological changes.

In the case of France, the outcome of the analysis of the existing household panel survey on
the “Travel habits of the French” showed that there was positive response to the most of the
data required by the Directive, except those concerning information on tourism expenditure.
The sample size consists of 20,000 monthly interviews by postal questionnaire (the sample
size has been doubled recently). After a trial test period in which questions on tourism
expenditure were introduced into this existing survey, which was deemed to provide
unsatisfactory results, France has worked on setting up a specific survey on tourism
expenditure.

Italy has worked on adapting the existing “Holidays taken by Italians” sample survey
(conducted every three years) to the requirements of the Directive. The “Holiday Survey
1996” was carried out in connection with the yearly “multi-purpose” survey and collected
information on leisure trips of four or more consecutive nights. Italy has also been testing the
feasibility of collecting information on tourism expenditure through the monthly household
consumption survey.

For the Netherlands, which has been conducting a “Continuous Holiday Survey” since 1980,
the work involved revising and extending this survey to collect information on business trips.
The revised survey was sent out for the first time in March 1996. Portugal had conducted in
the past an annual survey on the “Holidays of the Portuguese” to which substantial revisions
have been made to change its scope, its frequency and introduce new variables in accordance
with the Directive. In 1996 a pilot survey was conducted and a regular quarter survey
launched in 1997.

Finland has conducted a regular holiday survey since 1991. To meet the requirements of the
Directive a new periodicity was adapted and the questionnaire was revised and extended to
cover many variables not previously covered concerning outbound tourism, domestic tourism
in private accommodation (visits to relatives and friends) and business travel. The revision of
data contents of the ’Finnish Travel Survey’ was carried out in 1995-1997 and the quarterly
survey was launched in 1996. Because of a changed survey design in the Labour Force
Survey (based on EU regulation) limiting the possibilities to use the same sample base for
other surveys, the data collection of the Finnish Travel survey will be carried out with a new
survey design starting in 2000.

Sweden has undertaken several studies on methodological issues in order to extend and adapt
the tourism demand survey currently conducted by the Swedish Tourist Authority to the
requirements of the Directive.

Work in the United Kingdom has involved implementing a number of adjustments to the
existing “UK Travel Survey” (which provides data on domestic tourism). Notably,
information on holiday trips of four or more nights have implied extensions and changes to
the questionnaires and pilot work was done in January 1997 to capture information covering
1996. The existing International Passenger Survey (IPS) provides data on outbound tourism
and after an initial assessment of its ability to meet the data requirements of the Directive, an

12

expenditure trailer was conducted in 1997/1998 under which a sub-sample of respondents was
asked about expenditure in great detail. Other work undertaken to improve the IPS has been
the targeting of rare sub-groups, meaning shifting the filter towards these groups to better
catch their behaviour.

3.3.2

Setting up new surveys

A few countries had never in the past conducted surveys on domestic and outbound tourism.
This is the case notably of Greece, Luxembourg, Ireland and Iceland.

Greece conducted its first annual survey on holidays of four or more consecutive nights by
Greek residents in December 1995, and in 1997 launched its first quarterly survey to collect
information on holiday and business trips of one or more consecutive nights away from home.

Luxembourg conducted its first pilot survey during the first half of 1996. This pilot survey
covered leisure trips undertaken in 1995. From the experienced gained from the pilot survey,
the data collection method and frequency for the regular survey was improved and after a first
pre-test survey in November 1996, the regular quarterly survey was launched at the end of the
first quarter of 1997.

Ireland designed its quarterly survey called ‘National Household survey’ in 1997, covering
domestic and outbound tourism.

Iceland conducted its first “Travel Survey” in 1996.

For other countries their existing systems did not provide sufficiently adequate tools to collect
the data as required by the Directive, thus new surveys had to be set up.

In Belgium, for example, an inventory and analysis of existing information on tourism
demand was made, and considering that most of the information was not harmonised, the
Statistical Office deemed it necessary to organise a new survey on annual tourism demand
(four or more consecutive nights) in 1996.

In the case of Denmark, which in the past only had conducted very few annual surveys on
domestic and outbound tourism, it was decided to develop a completely new quarterly survey.
This survey has been set up as from January 1996 and covers both long and short trips (both
quarterly and annual data).

Germany conducted in the past annual surveys on holiday trips of its residents, but this was
stopped in 1990. Thus, to comply with the Directive a completely new quarterly survey
covering all the data characteristics on tourism demand (both quarterly and annual data) was
launched in 1997.

Norway conducted its first quarterly “Travel Survey” within the framework of the general
“Omnibus” survey in 1997.

For some countries the need to set up new surveys concerned the collection of quarterly data
on holiday and business trips of one or more consecutive nights away from home.

13

This is the case of Austria, which first launched a pilot survey on business and professional
tourism in December 1995, and then launched its first regular quarterly survey on holiday and
business trips of one or more nights in 1997.

Belgium and Italy also launched a pilot survey on holiday and business trips of one or more
consecutive nights in 1997.

IV.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Actions and work currently carried out to implement the Directive can now be considered as
fully operational and fairly advanced, carried out under conditions which can be considered as
relatively satisfactory. Data availability and timeliness have increased considerably since the
adoption of the Directive. Common definitions have been applied and data is therefore more
comparable.

It is nevertheless too early to draw definite conclusions from the experience of implementing
the Council Directive, since the transition period for quarterly data collection is still not
finished. During 1996 piloting work was undertaken and in 1997 the actual regular data
collection started, but there were many countries which asked for derogations during the
transition period.

The availability of Community funding in the initial phase of the implementation process of
the Directive has enabled Member States to undertake a certain number of adaptations to their
systems of tourism statistics and implement the Directive quicker than would otherwise have
been possible.

The implementation of the tourism Directive has enabled, or should enable, the system of
tourism statistics to be directed towards the needs of users at Community and national level.

Note must however be taken of a certain number of considerations which may influence
future decisions. These concern, in particular, the following aspects:

– Some delays have been observed in Member States' data transmission to Eurostat. This

makes quick dissemination to users more difficult.

– Delays in examining and ensured the quality, reliability and comparability of the data.
There is a need to examine the application of definitions and classifications more in detail.
The lack of human and financial resources required to assess in-depth the results
communicated by the Member States have so far enabled that this assessment is not yet
fully completed.

V.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

The Community system of tourism statistics faces important challenges in the coming years,
e.g. enlargement, more sophisticated user needs on tourism statistics (tourism employment,
importance of tourism in the economy, tourism satellite accounts, measure the degree of
competitiveness of tourism businesses, etc.), incorporation of the environmental dimension in
policy areas linked to tourism (sustainable development of tourism), consideration of the role
of the tourism sector in rural and regional development, technological development of new
tools for data collection, etc. Consequently, it would be appropriate to ensure and maintain,
and if possible develop further, the existence of an information system on tourism statistics at

14

Community level, which would facilitate the development of tourism statistics to meet the
needs of users.

Future actions should concentrate on continuing the implementation and consolidation of the
Directive and examining the quality, reliability and comparability of the data, the application
of definitions and classifications, comparisons of different data sources, work on mirror
statistics and increase the timeliness and dissemination of the results. Moreover, links to other
statistics should be examined, e.g. employment, passenger transport, balance of payments,
business statistics, prices and national accounts, in order to utilise existing data sources more
efficiently. Furthermore, work on the implementation of tourism satellite accounts could be
considered, since this would allow obtaining a measurement of the importance of tourism in
the economy and on the employment, and for which the Directive would constitute an
important information source.

The work on reflecting on future actions in the framework of the Directive and possible
extensions of the legal act should be in line and co-ordinated with the Commission's policy on
tourism's job creation potential, which was initialised in the report of the High Level Group
on Tourism and Employment10. The report underlined the importance of valid information,
considering that "the aim of ensuring timely, reliable and comparable information, there is the
need to exploit existing EC instruments such as the Eurobarometer, to up-grade them in
relation to business needs, and to ensure greater synergies on complementary actions, through
public-private co-operation".

The European Commission Communication of 28 April 1999 "Enhancing Tourism's Potential
for Employment"11 responded to the High Level Group report and to the request of the
Council of Ministers to focus on the link between tourism and employment12. In the
communication the need for a "knowledge driven" European tourism strategy was
emphasised, "which would encourage businesses, public authorities and other interested
parties to better exploit existing information, acquire and develop know-how, develop new
processes, and learn from best practices".

information, notably through new
Facilitating the exchange and dissemination of
technologies, is one of the four areas emphasised in the Council Conclusions on Tourism and
Employment of 21.6.1999. As a follow-up to the Council Conclusions four working groups
were set up, one of them focusing on information. The aim of this working group is to
identify the information needs and means to provide access to information. Statistics was
regarded as one of the most important means of information within the working group. The
work within this framework is expected to provide further elements to the discussion of more
sophisticated user needs on tourism statistics.

10

11

12

Conclusions and recommendations of the High Level Group on tourism and employment, European
Commission - DG XXIII, October 1998.
OJ C 178, 23.6.1999, p. 3
Council of (Tourism) Ministers of 26th of November 1997.

15

ANNEX 1.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Adopted:

Year

Decision

OJ

Contents (article in parenthesis refers
to the Directive)

1998

1999/35/EC

L 9, 15.1.1999 Annex 1: Definitions of variables

(article 3)

Annex 2: Standard data transmission
tables (article 7)

Annex
3: Derogations
Member States (article 10)

granted

to

Planned:

Year

Contents (article in parenthesis refers to the Directive)

2001

Annex 1: Accuracy requirements and the harmonised processing of
systematic biases (article 4)

Annex 2: Processing of data (article 6)

Annex 3: Dissemination of the results (article 9)

16

ANNEX 2.

SUMMARY TABLE BY COUNTRY AND BY SECTION OF THE DIRECTIVE

Below follows tables by section of the Directive and by country on the main statistical
tool (survey, register) developed or introduced to comply with the requirements of the
legal act (second column). The other columns show data availability and data
freshness (as of situation 20.3.2000) in terms of data tables transmitted from Member
States to Eurostat. See below the explanation of marks noted for data availability and
data freshness:

Data availability

0: no data (no table is transmitted)

1: weak availability (less than 30% of tables)

2: medium availability (30-60% of tables)

3: good availability (60-80% of tables)

4: excellent availability (more than 80% of tables)

Data freshness

Delay in reference periods

monthly/quarterly/annual

1: weak

8+/3+/2+

2: medium

4-7/2/1

3: good

0-3/0-1/0

17

Capacity of collective tourist accommodation: local units on national territory

Country

Main statistical tool (survey,
register) developed or
introduced

Data
availability

Data
freshness

(annual)

(annual)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

2-3

1-2

4

3

"Survey on tourism and hotels" (*): a
linkage between accommodation register
and administrative sources has been
established.

---

---

---

"Tourist accommodation survey" (*): in
1996 it was extended to cover holiday
dwelling and a new register was
established.

Data collection on tourist capacity (*): it
was extended to include the Directive's
variables, hotels register was extended
to include 0 star hotels and a new
register of non-classified was built.

A new survey on
accommodation
establishments was launched in 1997,
based
tourism
on
accommodation register.

new

the

The two census surveys "Capacity of
hotels survey" (*) and "Capacity of other
collective establishments
(*)
were revised in 1996. The satellite
register on tourism establishments has
been linked to the business register.

survey"

"Accommodation
census
survey (*): extended since 1998 to
include the number of bed-places

statistics"

"Accommodation statistics" survey (*):
adopting stratified sample population
approach, developing electronic data
gathering, extending and updating the
existing register
on accommodation
establishment.

"Tourist Accommodation/beds" survey
(*): rented houses and flats excluded
form hotels and similar establishments

18

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Iceland

Norway

Note:

statistics"

"Accommodation
census
surveys (*): extended to cover holiday
dwellings; a new register on holiday
dwellings has been set up.

---

statistics"

"Accommodation
survey (*): new system for
collection;
breakdown.

census
data
geographical

adapting

the

Improving
tourism
accommodation registers of the regional
tourist boards.

existing

statistics"

"Accommodation
census
survey (*):
the existing register was
the
completed
updated;
classification of accommodation types
has been totally reviewed and modified.

and

"Accommodation
survey (*):
similar
improved.

census
statistics"
the register on hotels and
been

establishments

has

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

3

3

(*): Survey existing before the Directive

---: No changes

19

Occupancy in collective accommodation establishments: domestic and inbound tourism

Country

Main statistical survey
developed or introduced

Data
availability

Data
freshness

(ann.)

(mon.)

(ann.)

(mon.)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

---

“Danish Hotel Survey” (*): adapting
geographical breakdown and collecting
net use of bed-places;

"Danish Camping Survey” (*): adapting
geographical breakdown and estimating
arrivals;

“Danish Youth Hostels Survey” (*), and
“Holiday Dwellings
(*):
Survey”
adapting geographical breakdown.

---

"Accommodation statistics" census (*):
creation of a new register on collective
accommodation; collection of gross net
geographical
adapting
use;
breakdown and questionnaire.

and

"Tourist accommodation survey" (*): in
1996 it was extended to cover occupancy
in holiday dwelling (pilot survey).

In 1998 the survey was extended to
collect information on gross use of bed-
places;
geographical
adapting
breakdown.

and

collection

occupancy

(*):
on
Data
adapting geographical breakdown. A new
survey on guest flows in 0 star hotels was
launched in 1997.

"National accommodation survey": new
survey on guest flows in accommodation
establishments launched in January 1997.

survey,

"Tourist
The monthly census
flows in accommodation facilities" (*)
has been restructured and simplified;
breakdown
geographical
been
estimate
new system to
adapted;
provisional data.

has

4

4

4

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

3

4

4

4

2

4

3

3

2-3

3

3

2-3

3

3

1-2

3

1

3

3

1

3

1-2

Luxembourg

statistics"

"Accommodation
census
survey (*): extended since January 1998
to include data on the net and gross use of
bed-places.

4

4

3

1

20

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United
Kingdom

Iceland

Norway

Note:

"Accommodation statistics" survey (*):
adopting stratified sample population
approach, developing electronic data
gathering, extending and updating the
existing
accommodation
on
establishment, estimating arrivals at stays
at pitches at extend of permanent lease.

register

"Arrivals and overnight stays" survey (*):
rented houses and flats excluded from
hotels and similar establishments and
adapting geographical breakdown.

New survey on guest flows in holiday
dwellings.

"Accommodation
census
survey (*): extended to cover gross use of
bed-places.

statistics"

(*):

statistics"
new system for

census
"Accommodation
data
survey
the geographical breakdown
collection;
has been adapted; holiday dwellings with
at least 5 cottages or 20 bed-places have
been included.

"International Passenger Survey" (*): a
number of adjustments have been made to
the questionnaire and its accommodation
trailer
to comply with the
Directive.

in order

"UK Occupancy Survey": has been
adapted from the various occupancy
run by the National Tourist
surveys
Boards.

"Accommodation
census
survey (*): it has been extended to cover
also the variable arrivals since 1995.

statistics"

4

4

2-3

1

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

1

3

3

1

4

3

3

4

4

3

1

The monthly survey on guest flows in
accommodation establishments has been
regional breakdown and
restructured:
geographical
been
completed, periodicity has been revised.

breakdown

has

statistics"

census
"Accommodation
survey (*): questionnaires for hotels and
similar establishments and for camping
sites have been revised to include the
world geographical breakdown.

4

4

3

3

(*): Survey existing before the Directive

---: No changes

21

Tourism demand: domestic and outbound tourism (excluding day-trips)

Country

Main statistical survey
developed or introduced

Data
availability

Data
freshness

(ann.)

(quar.)

(ann.)

(quar.)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

2

2

2

4

2

0

1

2

4

4

4

4

2

0

0

3

3

3

3

2

2

-

1

3

3

1

2-3

1

1

-

-

1

New annual "Survey on holidays taken by
Belgians in 1996" (4 nights or plus). New
ad hoc quarterly survey on short and long
trips.

New quarterly survey since Jan. 1996.

New quarterly survey launched in 1997.

New annual survey on holidays of four
nights or more was launched in 1995.
New quarterly survey on long and short
holidays was launched in 1997.

survey

los
The
espagnoles" was adapted to comply with
the Directive and became FAMILITUR.

"Vacaciones

de

"Survey on travel habits of the French"
(*): it has been extended to include data
on tourist expenditure.

The new quarterly survey,
"National
household survey" was launched in 1998.

The Multipurpose household survey (*)
was expanded in 1996.

A new quarterly survey was set up in
1997 covering annual data for holidays of
4 nights or more.

A quarterly sample survey was launched
in 1997 ("Travel and holidays") covering
quarterly data on holiday and business
trips of one or more consecutive nights.

Luxembourg

A first pilot survey on leisure travel was
launched in 1996.

4

4

2

2

The first regular quarterly survey was
launched at the end of the first quarter of
1997 (quarterly and annual data).

Netherlands

(*):
"Continuous Holiday
revising and extending the survey to
include business trips data collection.

Survey"

0

0

-

-

22

Austria

"Microcensus - travel habits of Austrians"
survey (*): annual basis instead of every
three years.

2

1

3

1

A pilot
professional
1995.

survey

and
tourism was launched in

business

on

A regular quarterly survey on holidays
and business trips was launched in 1997.

"Holidays of the Portuguese" (*): scope,
frequency and questionnaire have been
revised to meet Directive's requirements.

Travel
has

Survey"
been

the
"Finnish
the
periodicity
questionnaire has been
and
extended to cover outbound and domestic
tourism characteristics (short and long
travels) and business trips.

(*):
adapted;
revised

been
Methodological
undertaken in order to extend and adapt
the existing survey.

studies

have

"United Kingdom Travel Survey" (*) on
domestic tourism: the questionnaire has
been adapted and extended to include
holiday trips of 4+ nights; work has been
designed to maximise harmonisation and
compatibility between the various sources
used.

"IPS" (*) providing data on outbound
trailer was
expenditure
an
tourism:
conducted in 1997-98.

The first survey on travel habits of
Icelanders was carried out in 1996.

The first quarterly Travel Survey was
carried out in 1997.

0

4

4

3

2

0

3

4

4

4

3

0

-

2-3

1

3

1

-

3

3

1

3

1

-

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United
Kingdom

Iceland

Norway

Note:

(*): Survey existing before the Directive

---: No changes

23

Total
(ECU)

200,000

200,000

350,000

200,000

350,000

350,000

200,000

350,000

60,000

200,000

170,000

200,000

170,000

170,000

350,000

110,000

110,000

ANNEX 3.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MEMBER STATES

Country

First contract
(ECU)

Second contract
(ECU)

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Austria

Portugal

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Iceland

Norway

(*) One contract

70,000

70,000

70,000

120,000

120,000

70,000

120,000

20,000

70,000

40,000

70,000

40,000

40,000

120,000

40,000

40,000

350,000 (*)

130,000

130,000

130,000

230,000

230,000

130,000

230,000

40,000

130,000

130,000

130,000

130,000

130,000

230,000

70,000

70,000

24