ETAC TOURISM ADVOCACY ISSUES AND PROPOSED COALITION STEPS

Key ETAC Tourism Advocacy Issues

• An open market in services
• Lessening legislative, administrative burden
• Continued improvement in applicable visa regimes
• A competitive fiscal environment for business and consumers
• Freedom of movement for visitors and professionals into and within EU
• Improving perceptions of welcome, service, experience and value for money
• Operational cost control and efficiency
• Increased product range
• Capacity management to allow growth and maintain quality
• Adequate infrastructure and services for visitors including groups
• Fit-for-purpose booking and logistics systems
• Evolving products and services for existing and emerging origin markets
• Consumer protection and passenger rights
• Transparency and informed choice for consumers
• Improved infrastructure and service for visitors
• Environmental management
• Security
• Energy
• Foreign relations
• Inward investment
• Raising awareness of the general economic benefits of tourism.

Proposed Coalition Steps

1. Development of like-minded actors

• Identification of appropriate partners with complementarities in terms of organizational skills, resources, experience and spheres of influence.
• Approaching potential partners in a targeted manner, with a clear idea on how the various partners complement each other in working towards ETAC’s advocacy goal, recognizing their roles individually and the added value for the coalition.

2. Establishment of  principles and effective practices of working

• Agreement on the guiding principles for partnership, including strategic objectives and modalities of collaboration.
• Implementation of mechanisms to ensure the smooth functioning of the ETAC, such as clarifying roles and resources of each partner, budgeted work plan, regular update meetings and appointment of a Chair (possibly on a rotation basis).
• Building trust by facilitating information sharing between partners (building a common website, sending regular e-blasts to members, Twitter feed, etc.), creating immediate “quick-win” opportunities to work together to demonstrate added value of the ETAC, ensuring reciprocal transparency, and supporting each other’s initiatives.
• Recognising the challenges of working in the ETAC; for instance, disagreements on specific policy solutions, need to reach a broad consensus, and conflicts on branding of the ETAC.

3. Research and identification of ‘Entry Points’ and Champions

• Strriking a balance between advancing the overall agenda on a constant basis, and gearing up action on a specific issue to take advantage of a certain policy window.
• Identification of the relevant players who can influence the decision-making process for the specific issue at hand, e.g., media, parliamentarians, key political constituencies, donors, etc. Work towards creating ownership of the advocacy issues by the identified champions.
• Identification of potential ‘entry points’ for the advocacy initiatives to generate maximum impact, and garner broader interest and support for the particular issue.
• Research to understand other current and related advocacy efforts and options for complementarity/ leveraging.

4. Managing and Delivery of Communications

• Identification of the best available vehicles for messaging, e.g. talking points to be delivered by key influencers in highly visible forums or bilateral meetings; media products (Twitter, web packages, press releases, etc.); presentations in parliamentarian forums. Understanding what a specific audience needs and expects.
• Delivering the message: sensitizing the target audience by cultivating interest, asking the target audience to take concrete action towards an end, and following up after the request for action to see if it has been undertaken.

 5. Evaluation

• Evaluate specific campaigns in relation to agreed benchmarks against baseline measures, e.g., increase in awareness or increase in public discussion. Evaluate advocacy efforts on an ongoing basis.
• Promote accountability by developing monitoring and transparency tools and mechanisms (for example, to monitor the actual flow and utilization of budgeted funds), and space for greater dialogue with stakeholders.
• Evaluate the coalition on other important outcomes, such as strengthened organizational capacity, alliances, or increased base for support.