The document provides an overview of EU tourism policy, including its goals of maintaining Europe's standing as a leading tourism destination while promoting growth, employment, and cooperation between EU countries. It outlines several key initiatives, such as enhancing sustainable and accessible tourism, supporting tourism businesses, promoting Europe as a destination, and international cooperation on tourism issues. Challenges for the European tourism industry include security, economic competitiveness, technology, and new markets and competition.

1. PEGASO UNIVERSITY
AN EXPLANATORY ANALYSIS
INTO EUROPEAN UNION LAW:
OVERVIEW OF EU TOURISM
POLICY

2. OVERVIEW EU TOURISM POLICY
EU Tourism links :
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/tourism/index_en.htm

3. TOOLS
1. EU tourism policy
2. Enhancing what european tourism has to offer
3. Support to tourism businesses
4. Promoting destination Europe
5. European food-tourism week 28 to 30 september
- EXPO Milan 2015
6. International cooperation

4. EU TOURISM POLICY
EU policy aims to maintain Europe's standing as a
leading destination while maximising the
industry's contribution to growth and employment
and promoting cooperation between EU countries,
particularly through the exchange of good practice.
The EU's competence in the tourism is one of
support and coordination to supplement the actions
of member countries.

5. EU TOURISM POLICY
Guide to EU Funding for the Tourism Sector 2014 –
2020
The EU Guide gathers information on various
sources of EU funding for the private and public
sector. It focuses on practical questions:
types and levels of funding available;
who can apply;
how to apply.
It includes concrete examples of projects funded
under previous programmes.

6. EU TOURISM POLICY
Challenges for the European tourism industry
The main challenges are:
•
security and safety - environmental, political, and social
security; safety of food and accommodation; and socio-
cultural sustainability threats;
•
economic competitiveness - seasonality, regulatory and
administrative burdens; tourism related taxation; difficulty of
finding and keeping skilled staff;

7. EU TOURISM POLICY
•
technological – keeping up to date with IT developments
caused by the globalisation of information and advances in
technology (IT tools for booking holidays, social media
providing advice on tourism services, etc.);
•
markets and competition - growing demand for
customised experiences, new products, growing
competition from other EU destinations.

8. EU TOURISM POLICY
Europe, the world's No. 1 tourist destination – a new
political framework for tourism in Europe
In June 2010, the European Commission adopted the
Communication, ‘Europe, the world's No. 1 tourist
destination – a new political framework for tourism in
Europe’.
This communication set out a new strategy and action plan
for EU tourism.

9. EU TOURISM POLICY
Four priorities for action were identified:
1.To stimulate competitiveness in the European tourism
sector;
2.To promote the development of sustainable, responsible,
and high-quality tourism;
3.To consolidate Europe's image as a collection of
sustainable, high-quality destinations;
4.To maximise the potential of EU financial policies for
developing tourism.

10. EU TOURISM POLICY
A regularly updated implementation rolling plan has been
developed in collaboration with public authorities, tourism
associations and other public/private tourism stakeholders.

11. EU TOURISM POLICY
The Commission has implemented the majority of the
actions set out in the Communication, focusing on
the following priorities:
•
increasing tourism demand, from within the EU and
beyond;
•
improving the range of tourism products and services on
offer;

12. EU TOURISM POLICY
•
enhancing tourism quality, sustainability, accessibility,
skills, and ICT use;
•
enhancing the socio-economic knowledge base of the
sector;
•
promoting Europe as a unique destination;
•
mainstreaming tourism in other EU tourism policies.

13. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Enhancing what European tourism has to offer
The European Commission works on a number of
initiatives to diversify and improve the range of tourism
products and services available in areas such as sustainable
tourism, accessible tourism, tourism for seniors, and low-
season tourism.

14. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Coastal and maritime tourism
The European Commission is implementing a strategy to
increase growth and jobs in the maritime and coastal
tourism sector.

15. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Sustainable tourism
The competitiveness of the European tourism industry is
closely linked to its sustainability.
To encourage sustainable tourism, the Commission:
•
co-funds sustainable transnational tourism products that
can contribute to tourism growth;
•
is developing a European Tourism Indicators System
(ETIS) for destinations. This system will monitor and
enhance sustainability performance, without the need for
specific training;

16. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism represents a great opportunity to
showcase European heritage and shared values, and
promote Europe as a ‘unique tourism destination’.
The Commission works with other international
organisations on cultural routes, funds cultural tourism
projects, and organises the annual Crossroads of Europe
conference.

17. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Accessible tourism
Accessible tourism is about making it easy for everyone to
enjoy tourist experiences.
This isn’t only about social responsibility – there is also a
compelling business case to improve accessibility and thus
boost the competitiveness of tourism in Europe.

18. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Tourism for all
Calypso: Tourism for all. The Calypso initiative helps
disadvantaged people go on holiday while increasing
tourism in the low season.

19. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
Low season tourism
Promoting tourism during the low season can stimulate
economic growth and jobs in Europe.
The European Commission has identified seniors and
young people as groups that can travel easily during the
low season.

20. ENHANCING WHAT EUROPEAN TOURISM
HAS TO OFFER
European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN)
The Commission launched the European Destinations of
Excellence competition to promote sustainable tourism and
emerging destinations.

22. SUPPORT TO TOURISM BUSINESSES
To maintain Europe’s position as a leading tourist
destination, the quality of its services needs to be
continuously improved.
The European Commission is involved in initiatives that
improve the skills and mobility of workers, particularly by
engaging in global digital networks and helping tourism
entrepreneurs manage their businesses.

23. SUPPORT TO TOURISM BUSINESSES
Tourism Business Portal
The Tourism Business Portal was launched by the
Commission to help European tourism companies better
manage their enterprises.
It provides practical, up-to-date information on digital
technologies and innovative business practices, which can
be easily applied when setting up, managing, promoting
and expanding a tourism business.

24. SUPPORT TO TOURISM BUSINESSES
Digital tourism
The Commission has implemented several actions to boost
the competitiveness of small businesses in the European
tourism sector, integrate them into global digital value
chains, and improve their ability to create more jobs.
This should improve the competitiveness of the industry in
the global digital market place.

25. SUPPORT TO TOURISM BUSINESSES
The ICT for tourism businesses initiative
To maintain Europe’s leading position among the world's
tourism destinations, the industry needs to continuously
improve the quality and mobility of its staff in order to
provide top quality, personalised services to all tourists.

26. SUPPORT TO TOURISM BUSINESSES
Improving professional skills in tourism
Enterprise Europe Network: tourism and cultural heritage
The Commission also supports the Tourism and Cultural
Heritage Group of the Enterprise Europe Network. This
organization helps small businesses in the EU.

28. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
To enhance the visibility of Europe as a tourist destination
and increase international tourist arrivals, the European
Commission undertakes a wide range of communication
and promotion activities, as well as making it easier to
travel to Europe.

29. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
Europe, whenever you’re ready
From 2012 to 2014, the Commission ran its first
international tourism campaign, ‘Europe, whenever you’re
ready’ to encourage international tourists to discover
Europe.
The campaign had a large impact and plenty of social
media coverage.

30. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
With contributions from well-known travel writers,
journalists, and bloggers, this initiative highlighted
Europe's diverse cultural and natural heritage, and
showcased the wide variety of unique opportunities that the
continent has to offer.
Contributors’ first-hand experiences showcased not-to-be
missed sights, as well as the ‘roads less travelled’ in a wide
range of European destinations.

31. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
Cooperation with the European Travel Commission
The Commission cooperates with the European Travel
Commission (ETC), the non-profit organization responsible
for promoting Europe as an international tourist
destination, in particular to non-EU countries.
Since 2012, the Commission has co-financed the
preparation and implementation of a dedicated Destination
Europe 2020 strategy – a programme of activities designed
to increase the visibility of Europe as a destination in key
long-haul markets.

32. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
The Commission and the ETC have also met businesses
and potential tourists in major international events and
travel fairs.
The ETC gathers 33 European National Tourism
Organisations who collaborate and share best practices,
and develop market intelligence for better marketing and
promotion of ‘Destination Europe’.

33. PROMOTING DESTINATION EUROPE
Simplifying visa rules
According to a Commission study of 2012, a total of 6
million potential tourists from six target markets analysed,
were ‘lost’ due to difficulties with visa applications.
So, the Commission proposed important changes to visa
rules in the next years.

35. EUROPEAN FOOD - TOURISM WEEK 28 TO
30 SEPTEMBER - EXPO MILAN 2015
The European Commission organizes the food-tourism
week in the framework of EXPO, in Milan. The ever-
growing interest in gastronomy provides a unique
opportunity for both tourism and food industries.
Europe can count on its diverse gastronomy and, in
particular, on high-quality food produce linked to local
traditions and landscapes to maintain the first position as
world destination.

36. EUROPEAN FOOD - TOURISM WEEK 28 TO
30 SEPTEMBER - EXPO MILAN 2015
The food-tourism week is meant to bring together, for the
first time, the main players in the tourism sector (industry
representatives, international organisations, opinion
leaders, small businesses, and national and regional
authorities) and discuss the future of food-tourism.

37. EUROPEAN FOOD - TOURISM WEEK 28 TO
30 SEPTEMBER - EXPO MILAN 2015
Food is indeed one of the most relevant competitive
advantages of European tourism.
European chefs have proved to be ambassadors of our
traditions and culture across the world. The cuisine and
excellent food production is to be considered as one of the
main tourism attractors in many European destinations.

38. EUROPEAN FOOD - TOURISM WEEK 28 TO
30 SEPTEMBER - EXPO MILAN 2015
The EU is strongly committed in preserving and promoting
the European know-how in food production.
With this aim the EU has implemented policies on quality
food and established the quality schemes known as :
PDO (protected designation of origin),
PGI (protected geographical indication) and
TSG (traditional speciality guaranteed).

39. EUROPEAN FOOD – TOURISM WEEK 28
TO
30 SEPTEMBER - EXPO MILAN 2015
During these three days we will explore different topics
related to tourism and gastronomy with the goal of
presenting various perspectives as well as new business
opportunities.
The event will also spotlight EU initiatives and policies
promoting European gastronomy as part of an outstanding
and diverse cultural offer.

41. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
We talk about the role of supranational organisations (SOs)
in the governance of tourism in a others Countries: how
and why SOs got involved in tourism in developing
countries, and more specifically, in small island developing
states.
Grounded in a history of colonialism, the EU has been
involved in the ‘development’ of the South Pacific for more
than three decades, which allowed to track changes in
development philosophy over time.

42. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
The EU clearly dominated in most overt decision‐making
situations during negotiations on aid and trade agreements.
As concerned the inclusion of tourism in the agreements,
the relative importance of the sector was clearly dependent
on the European Commission’s prevailing attitude on
‘tourism and development’ at any point in time.