Article 1 Aim
For the purpose of establishing an information system on tourism statistics at Community level, Member States shall carry out the collection, compilation, processing and transmission of harmonized Community statistical information on tourism supply and demand.
Article 2 Domain of information collection and basic definitions
For the purposes of this Directive, the data to be collected shall relate to: (a) the capacity of collective tourist accommodation establishments The types of collective accommodation in question are as follows: 1. hotels and similar establishments 2. other collective accommodation establishments, inter alia : 2.1. tourist campsites 2.2. holiday dwellings 2.3. other collective accommodation; (a) the capacity of collective tourist accommodation establishments The types of collective accommodation in question are as follows: 1. hotels and similar establishments 2. other collective accommodation establishments, inter alia : 2.1. tourist campsites 2.2. holiday dwellings 2.3. other collective accommodation; 2. other collective accommodation establishments, inter alia : 2.1. tourist campsites 2.2. holiday dwellings 2.3. other collective accommodation; (b) guest flows in collective accommodation establishments: The collection shall cover internal tourism, i.e. domestic and inbound tourism; ‘domestic tourism’ shall mean residents of the given country travelling only within this country and ‘inbound tourism’ shall mean non-residents travelling within the given country; (b) guest flows in collective accommodation establishments: The collection shall cover internal tourism, i.e. domestic and inbound tourism; ‘domestic tourism’ shall mean residents of the given country travelling only within this country and ‘inbound tourism’ shall mean non-residents travelling within the given country; (c) tourism demand: The collection shall cover national tourism, i.e. domestic and outbound tourism; ‘outbound tourism’ shall mean residents of a country travelling in another country. The information on tourism demand shall concern trips the main purpose of which is holidays or business and which involve at least one or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence. (c) tourism demand: The collection shall cover national tourism, i.e. domestic and outbound tourism; ‘outbound tourism’ shall mean residents of a country travelling in another country. The information on tourism demand shall concern trips the main purpose of which is holidays or business and which involve at least one or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence.
Article 3 Information collection characteristics
1. A list of data collection characteristics, showing their periodicity and their territorial breakdown appears in the Annex. 2. The definitions to be applied to the data collection characteristics and any adjustments to the list of data collection characteristics shall be determined by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia , by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2).
Article 4 Accuracy of statistical information
1. The collection of statistical information shall, where possible, ensure that results meet the necessary minimum accuracy requirements. Those requirements, and the procedures for ensuring the harmonised processing of systematic biases, shall be adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2). The minimum accuracy requirements shall be determined with particular reference to annual overnight stays at national level. 2. As regards the basis on which the information is collected, Member States shall take whatever measures they deem appropriate to maintain the quality and comparability of the results.
Article 5 Collection of statistical information
1. Member States may, where appropriate, base the collection of the statistical information referred to in Article 3 on existing data, sources and systems. 2. For the characteristics with annual periodicity, the first reference period shall begin on 1 January 1996. For the characteristics relating to the columns on monthly and quarterly data appearing in sections B and C respectively of the Annex, the first reference period shall begin on 1 January 1997.
Article 6 
Data processing Member States shall process the information collected under Article 3 in accordance with the accuracy requirements referred to in Article 4 and the detailed rules adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2). The regional level shall be in accordance with the Nomenclature of Territorial Units (NUTS) of the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Article 7 Transmission of data
1. Member States shall transmit the data processed in accordance with Article 6, including the information declared confidential by Member States pursuant to domestic legislation or practice concerning statistical confidentiality, and in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90 of 11 June 1990 on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities ( 7 ). The said Regulation governs the confidential treatment of information. 2. The transmission of provisional annual data shall take place within six months of the end of the reference period, and the revised annual results shall be transmitted within a maximum period of 12 months following the end of the reference period. The transmission of provisional monthly and quarterly data shall take place within three months of the end of the corresponding reference period, and the revised monthly and quarterly results shall be transmitted within a maximum period of six months following the end of the corresponding reference period. 3. Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12(1) , the Commission may, for the purpose of facilitating the task of the parties responsible for providing information, establish, standardized data transmission procedures and create the conditions for increased use of automatic data processing and electronic data transmission.
Article 8 Reports
1. Member States shall provide the Commission at its request with all information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information. Member States shall also provide the Commission with details of any subsequent changes in the methods used. 2. 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.
Article 9 Dissemination of the results
The arrangements for the dissemination of the data by the Commission shall be determined pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 12(1) .
Article 10 Transition period
1. Without prejudice to Article 13, Member States shall take all the measures necessary to make the Community information system operational during a transition period, which shall end three years after entry into force of this Directive for monthly and annual data, and five years after entry into force of this Directive for quarterly data. 2. During the transition period, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12, accept derogations from the provisions of this Directive, in so far as the national statistical systems require adaptations in the field of tourism.
Article 11 Committee
As regards the procedures for implementing this Directive, and any measures for adjustment to economic and technical developments, concerning in particular: — the definitions to be applied to the information collection characteristics and any adjustments to the list of data collection characteristics (Article 3), in so far as these adjustments do not make the collection process more onerous, — accuracy requirements and the harmonized processing of systematic biases (Article 4), — processing of data (Article 6), data transmission procedures (Article 7) and dissemination of the results (Article 9), — the derogations from the provisions of this Directive during the transition period (Article 10), the Commission shall be assisted, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 12, by the Statistical Programme Committee established by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom ( 8 ), hereinafter referred to as the ‘Committee’. The measures referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 6, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia , by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2). The measures referred to in Articles 7 and 9 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 12(1).
Article 12 
1. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC ( 9 ) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 13 Implementation of the Directive
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 23 November 1996.
Article 14 Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .
Article 15 Final provision
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.