Skills development in EU tourism Call for proposals in the framework of the Youth on the Spot Initiative Kick off meeting 10 November 2016

1. Skills development in EU tourism
Call for proposals in the framework of the
Youth on the Spot Initiative
Kick off meeting 10 November 2016
Donatella Soria and Silvia Draghi
European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry,
Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW)
Unit F4 - Tourism, Emerging and Creative Industries
1

2. Economic Importance of Tourism
• The 3rd largest economic activity in the EU (after
distribution and construction)
• Dominated by SMEs (>90% = 3.4 million)
• Direct and indirect contribution:
 9.7% of EU GDP
 24 million jobs (10 % of the total labour force)
 20% of the employees in the sector are aged below 25
• Spill-over effects: agro-food, transport, construction,
retail, culture, design, etc.
• EU = Nr 1 destination of the world – 478.3 mil. international tourist
arrivals (2015) and EUR 334 bil. in receipts (30% of world total)
2

3. Legal and Policy Framework
Communication COM(2010)352
« Europe, the world’s No 1 tourist destination - a new political framework for
tourism in Europe »
Lisbon Treaty Art. 195
Complement,
support and
coordinate the action
of the Member States
Creating a favorable environment
for development of undertakings
Promote cooperation between MS
and exchange of good practice
No harmonisation of
the legislative
measures of MS
3

4. Administrative
obstacles to
businesses,
lack of
awareness of
funding
opportunities
Increased
competition
from
destinations in
emerging
countries
Low ICT
uptake,
keeping up with
digitalisation
Quality of jobs
in tourism,
appropriate
skills
development
Challenges for European tourism
Improve
business
environment
and facilitate
access to
finance
4 PRIORITY ACTIONS 2016 ONWARDS
Uptake of
Digitalisation
(+ sharing
economy)
Enhance skills and
training & workforce
mobility
Promotion of
destination Europe
and
internationalisation
of SMEs
4

5. Date: in 12 pts
Priority 4- Enhance quality and mobility of
workforce in tourism
Tourism – creator of employment in Europe

6. Date: in 12 pts
Study "Mapping and Performance check of the supply side
of tourism education and training" (February 2016).
?
Mismatch between needs of industry and education
offer
• Lack of basic skills (intercultural, interpersonal,
languages)
• Need to adapt to rapid technological change
• Need to adapt to new trends and customers' needs
Poor image of tourism careers
• Part-time, temporary work, high turnover
• Poor job quality (Weak training culture, uninspiring
career paths, inequitable salaries)

7. Date: in 12 pts
Informal consultation on how to better target EU
initiatives and funding opportunities for developing
skills in the tourism sector- June 2016
1) 1) Tourism stakeholders know little about the EU initiatives,
instruments and available funding opportunities for boosting
employability, mobility and skills development.

8. 2) Skills that need to be further developed in view of future
market challenges

9. 3) Concrete initiatives that could be taken at EU level

10. 4) Concrete initiatives to be taken at EU level to promote the
image and perception of tourism careers

11. Dedicated Commission Initiatives
for Tourism
• 1) section dedicated to the hospitality sector in EURES
• 2) "Skills passport in Hospitality and Tourism" within EURES
•
• 3) Tourism Business Portal
• 4) Study to map the skills needs to improve the
accessibility and safety of tourism services for disabled
people and people with special needs.

12. Dedicated Commission Initiatives
for Tourism
• 5) the European Skills/Competences, Occupations,
and Qualifications (ESCO) especially dedicated to skills
profiles needed in the tourism sector.
• 6) Section dedicated to Tourism in the "Drop'pin"
platform.
7) Pilot Project Youth on the Spot (call for proposals
published in April 2016 )

13. MOST RECENT
INITIATIVES
New Skills agenda
Blueprint on
sectoral
cooperation on
skills- June 2016
Call for proposals
Erasmus+ (2017)
Call for tender
COSME (2017)

14. European Partnership for
implementing a long-term
sectoral strategy for skills
development
New Skills Agenda
Blueprint for sectorial
cooperation on skills

15. Suggestions for deliverables of Blueprint
translate the sectoral strategy into identification of skills needs for key job
profiles
ensuring complementarity and synergies with existing evidence for the sector
a common methodology for assessing the current situation & forecasting for
demand and supply of skills (5-10y)
detail how major trends affect jobs & skills needs
priorities for new qualifications and training
design corresponding curriculum guidelines & develop pilot courses
Suggestions for deliverables of BlueprintSuggestions for deliverables

16. Suggestions for deliverables
models based on good examples using funding opportunities at EU, nat.
& reg. level
concrete solutions to promote mobility of vocational students, jobseekers
& trainees
actions to promote the image of tourism careers
awareness and visibility, promotion and dissemination of the results
rolling out at national/regional level, in close cooperation with MS and
key national/regional stakeholders

17. Call for proposals under Erasmus + Programme
(2017)
Lot 3 "Sector Skills Alliance for implementing a new strategic
approach ( Blueprint) for sectoral cooperation on skills
Funding EUR 4 million per sector over 4 years
80% co-funding
6 pilot sectors selected
TOURISM as ONE sector eligible for funding

18. Timetable TBC - Call for proposals Erasmus+
Publication of the call: January 2017
Deadline for submitting applications: April 2017
Award decision: July 2017
Starting date: autumn 2017

19. COSME 2017 Call for tender under
the New Skills Agenda
• To complement the Call under Erasmus+
• Particular focus on:
• Enhancing visibility and upscaling the use of existing EU
tools
• Enhanhancing the image and highlighting positive
aspects of tourism careers, especially for young people
(support material, innovative education and training
tools)

20. COSME 2017
Call for tender in the framework of the New
Skills Agenda
• One call for tender for the tourism sector
• Budget allocated: 800,000 euros for the sector
• Publication: Q1 2017
• Award: Q2 2017
• Signature of the contract/grant agreement: Q3
2017
• Total duration of each contract: 12 months