Tourism as a catalyst for the economic activity between North and South and vice versa

1. 1st Mediterranean Hotel Forum
Barcelona, 26 Nov 2015
Tourism as a catalyst for the economic activity
between North and South and vice versa
George Drakopoulos
President & CEO tourism generis

2. Importance of tourism for the EU
Tourism is a major economic activity in the European
Union with wide-ranging impact on economic growth,
employment and social development.
The European Commission works to address these with
policies and actions.

3. Policies & Actions
North & South
Economy structure Development stage
Tourism’s contribution to GDP
Egypt 12,8% Spain 15,2% Greece 16.7%
Denmark 6,8% Germany 8,9% Poland 4,4%

4. South supports North?
Tourism encourages and supports an intense
economic activity between North – South and
vice versa.
Southbound with the flows of tourists and
Northbound with the flows for capital goods.

5. Southbound

6. Northbound
Capital equipment & technical knowhow for
general and special infrastructure (airports,
shipping ports, highways, telecommunications)
Tourism coaches for transport
Cars for rentals
Furniture, china & glassware for hotels
Laundry & kitchen equipment for hotels
Foreign languages for professionals

7. Europe 2020 strategy
puts forward 3 priorities
Smart
growth
Sustainable
growth
Inclusive
growth

8. Smart growth
among targets Tourism contribution
More employment for
women & young people
Tourism creates
employment in a wide
range of activities, on
different levels of
knowledge and
specialisation, mainly for
young people and mostly
in the regions

9. How to boost smart growth?
flagship initiatives Tourism contribution
Digital agenda the majority of transactions
to be made on line
Innovation quick adoption of new
technologies e.g. green
hotels

10. Sustainable growth
among targets: Tourism contribution
reducing
greenhouse gas
UNWTO initiative
on Climate and Tourism
more renewables in final
energy consumption
solar panels
water recycling
energy efficiency Hotel Energy Solutions
Project

11. Inclusive growth
among targets: Tourism contribution
75% employment rate
for people aged 20-64
..as said before...
at least 20 million fewer
people in OR at risk of
poverty and social
exclusion
geographical expansion
labour intensive nature
spread of employment
.....................................
particularly relevant in
remote and rural areas
where many of the poor
live

12. Conclusions here
(recommendations next slide)
Balanced growth
Equal opportunities
Priorities within reason
Tourism it is an industry

13. recommendation