EU Tourism Policy actions promoting sustainable and cultural tourism

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1 EU Tourism Policy actions promoting sustainable and cultural tourism Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism for local and regional development Santander, 30 April 2015 Ilona LELONEK HUSTING European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Tourism Policy Unit Date: in 12 pts

2 Facts & figures on tourism in the EU > a cross-cutting sector, the 3 rd largest economic activity in the EU (after Distribution and Construction) > involves a big diversity of services and professions > mainly dominated by SMEs (3.4 million) Socio-economic importance of tourism 5 % the EU GDP 5.2% of the total labour force (9.7 million jobs)

3 Legal Framework EU Tourism competences EU competence (after the Lisbon Treaty art. 195): Complement, support and coordinate the action of the Member States in the tourism sector How? By: Encouraging the creation of a favorable environment for the development of undertakings in this sector Promoting cooperation between the Member States, particularly by the exchange of good practice No harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States

4 Priority actions for next years, to keep EU tourism competitive and sustainable 1. Streamlining the regulatory and administrative framework 2. Promoting the digitalisation of the tourism SMEs 3. Upgrading the skills and competences 4. Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism 5. Fostering low and medium season tourism exchanges 6. Improving intermodality and transport connectivity 7. JointpromotionofEurope as a tourist destination, in third countries' markets 8. Improving the governance of tourism

5 Europe N 1 tourist destination in the world with 431 million international tourist arrivals in 2013 Thanks to great: INSERT cultural and historical heritage natural assets diversity of sceneries quality services good connectivity 5

6 Actions enhancing sustainable tourism European Charter for sustainable and responsible tourism to encourage sustainable/responsible practices European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) for Sustainable Management of Destinations A 2014 Communication -strategy for maritime and coastal tourism (with DG MARE) Diversification of European tourism products capitalising on Europe's rich cultural and natural heritage

7 Diversifying tourism products and promote sustainable tourism European Destinations of Excellence -EDEN initative Objectives: - Enhancing visibility of the emerging, non-traditional European tourist destinations of excellence - Rewarding sustainable forms of tourism - Creating a platform for the exchange of good practices at European level by tourist destinations - around 120 destinations awarded in Europe - EDEN destinations in Spain: Sierra de lasnieves,the Ebro Delta, TrasmieraEcopark, Natural Park of Guara's Mountains and Canyons

8 Supporting development of transnational thematic tourism products Since 2011 more than 30 transntaional projetcs co-financed following open calls for proposals Projects involving partners from at least 4 countries and developing a tourism offer around a common theme Objectives : developingand promotingtransnational tourismtrails, itineraries, routes : environmentally friendly tourism, cycling routes, hiking trails, routes based on common cultural or industrial heritage. Supporting development of public-private partnerships with involvement of SMEs

9 Examplesof the co-financedprojects: - EuroVelo - Iron Curtain Trail (EV 13) - St James Way (EV 3) - Hiking trail along Danube - Greenways - Via Francigena and the Pilgrimage Ways - CERA-DEST European Route of Ceramics - Venetian Routes - European Equestrian routes

10 Why cultural tourism is important for Europe? Cultural tourism accounts for around 40% of all European tourism Over a third of UNESCO s world heritage sites are in Europe Cultural tourism is a sector in continuous growth According to Eurobarometer 2015 culture (arts, gastronomy, pilgrims, city trips )isamongthe main reasonfor travelling for almost 50% of the European tourists

11 Commission s support to transnational cultural tourism products (1) Political support Commission aims at facilitating the development of cultural tourism products developing: Cooperation with other Commission DGs (EAC), Cooperation with the Council of Europe on the Cultural Routes program Support to the promotion in long-haul markets in cooperation with European Travel Commission (ETC) Cooperation on joint initiatives with China, UNWTO, etc.

12 Commission s support to transnational cultural tourism products (2) Financial support: Cooperation agreements with the CoE on its European Cultural Routes programme Organisation of fairs on cultural tourism Crossroads of Europe. The next one possibly in Gastronomic portal to promote European traditions, festivals and culinary heritage EXPO 2015 Milan "The food-tourismweek" 28/09 1/10 Starting a closer cooperation with UNESCO Calls for proposals to support transnational thematic tourism products

13 Call for proposals 2015 to co-finance transnational projectsin sustainableand cultural tourism Call for proposals: Supporting Competitive and Sustainable Growth in the Tourism Sector(3 THEMES) THEME 2 - Diversifying the EU tourism offer and products Promoting transnational thematic tourism products (1.7MLN EUR under revision to 2 MLN EUR) Focus on: Sport/wellness activity tourism in synergy with natural heritage European cultural or industrial heriatge Upto8newprojectscouldbeco-financed Planned launch of the call: end of April/early May

14 The guide covers the most important EU programmes for the tourism sector It focuses on (in)direct funding opportunities rism/policy-overview/index_en.htm

15 Upcoming major EU tourism events 2015 European Tourism Forum (Presidency Event), Luxembourg, September European Tourism Day, Brussels, 16 December

16 Contact details European Commission, Tourism website: ourism/index_en.htm Calls for proposals: acts-grants/calls-forproposals/index_en.htm Unit H1. Tourism Policy Unit: Thank you for your attention