9 Sustainability of European tourism
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15289/03
COM(03) 716
+ADD 1
| Commission Communication: Basic orientations for the sustainability of European Tourism
Commission staff working document: extended impact assessment
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| Legal base | — |
| Department | Culture, Media and Sport
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 16 April 2007
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 34-i (2005-06), para 10 (4 July 2005)
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| To be discussed in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Legal background
9.1 Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the European Community
includes the promotion of sustainable economic development as
one of the Community's tasks. Article 3(1)(u) specifies "measures
in the sphere of…tourism" as among the Community's activities
for the purposes of Article 2. Many EU policies are relevant to
tourism (for example, policies on the environment, transport,
trade, employment, and regional development). There is, however,
no specific legal base for a Community tourism policy.
9.2 But Article III-281 of the Constitutional Treaty
proposes that the EU should complement the actions of Member States
with the objectives of encouraging a favourable environment for
the development of tourism and promoting cooperation between Member
States. It also proposes that the EU be empowered to adopt European
laws and framework laws, excluding the harmonisation of national
laws and regulations, to complement the actions of Member States
to achieve the objectives of the Article.
Previous scrutiny
9.3 In 2003 the Commission issued this Communication
on the sustainability of European tourism. While recognising the
major benefits of tourism, the Commission argued that some aspects
of it are not consistent with the principles of sustainable development.[33]
The concentration of tourism in the summer months and at particular
destinations leads to overcrowding and poor quality in peak periods
and to over-capacity and unemployment outside the peaks. Tourism
distorts transport provision and operation and contributes to
climate change.
9.4 Accordingly, the Commission proposed:
- Creating a Tourism Sustainability
Group comprising representatives of tour operators, transport
operators and other providers as well as Member States, local
and regional authorities, consumer groups and non-governmental
organisations. The Group would draw up a programme for action,
evaluate implementation of the programme and monitor the sustainability
of the development of tourism.
- Cooperating with international bodies such as
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World
Tourist Organisation and the International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives.
- Increasing understanding of sustainable tourism
among consumers, the industry and public authorities, and the
promotion of exchanges of information on, for example, best practice.
9.5 The previous Committee shared the Government's
view that any measures taken by the Commission should be consistent
with the principle of subsidiarity. It also shared the Government's
scepticism about the proposal to set up a new Tourism Sustainability
Group. It decided, therefore, to keep the document under scrutiny
and asked for progress reports on the consideration of the proposal.[34]
9.6 In 2005, the then Minister for Tourism at the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Richard Caborn) told
us that the Tourism Sustainability Group had been established.
He noted that Article III-281 of the Constitutional Treaty would
give the EU a new competence for tourism. In view of this, the
Government would be represented on the Group.
9.7 In the light of the proposed Article on tourism
in the Constitutional Treaty, we understood why the Government
had decided that it should be represented on the Tourism Sustainability
Group. We asked for further progress reports and meanwhile, kept
the Commission's Communication under scrutiny.[35]
The Minister's letter of 16 April 2007
9.8 The Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism
at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Shaun Woodward)
tells us that the Tourism Sustainability Group issued its report
in February. He encloses a copy. The Minister summarises it as
follows:
"The report … lists eight challenges
for the sustainability of European tourism: 1) Reducing seasonality
of demand, 2) Addressing the impact of tourism transport, 3) Improving
the quality of tourism jobs, 4) Maintaining and enhancing community
prosperity and the quality of life, in the face of change, 5)
Minimising resource use and production of waste, 6) Conserving
and giving value to natural and cultural heritage, 7) Making holidays
available to all and 8) Using tourism as a tool in global sustainable
development.
"The report identifies relevant actions
to address those challenges and how those actions can be implemented
by destinations, businesses and tourists. It also summarises the
responsibilities for action by the main players at different levels:
the European Commission, Member States' governments, Local Authorities
and Destination Management Organisations, the Tourist industry
and the Tourists.
"The report includes a recommended action
plan as well as a set of sustainable tourism indicators."
9.9 The Minister says that the Government is largely
content with the report's proposals but it has concerns about
a few points (for example, because of the cost of collecting the
recommended data).
9.10 The Minister says that the Commission is conducting
consultations on the Group's report and will issue a Communication
in the autumn making proposals.
9.11 The Commission intends to retain the Tourism
Sustainability Group. The Minister believes that the UK should
continue to be represented at the Group so as to influence action
and share best practice.
Conclusion
9.12 We are grateful to the Minister for his letter
and for sending us the Tourism Sustainability Group's report.
In the autumn, we shall scrutinise the proposals the Commission
is expected to make in the light of the Group's report and the
consultations on it. The Communication the Commission issued in
2003 has, therefore, now completed its function and we are content
to clear it from scrutiny.
33 The World Tourism Organisation's definition is that
"Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present
tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities
for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all
resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs
can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential
ecological processes, biological diversity and life-support systems". Back
34
See HC 42-v (2003-04), para 4 (14 January 2004). Back
35
See HC 34-i (2005-06), para 10 (4 July 2005). Back
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