EUROPEAN TRAVEL ADVOCACY COALITION (ETAC) PRESENTATION

Our Mission

The European Travel Advocacy Coalition (ETAC) ensures that the needs and priorities of travel and tourism are recognized, debated and addressed at the highest political levels with the goal of delivering a fully functioning travel market in Europe. The European Travel Advocacy Coalition (ETAC) advocates for policies that promote travel to and within Europe and is ALL INCLUSIVE targeting both the public and private sectors in European tourism. We strongly believe it is important to involve both public and private stakholders and create a platform for dialogue regarding legislation and regulations affecting tourism, infrastructure, promotion, vocational education and environment.

The European Travel Advocacy Coalition's (ETAC) core strategic priority is to advocate on behalf of the collective travel industry within the European Union and to ensure that the concerns and interests of the travel and tourism community, and all those employed by it, are effectively represented within the EU decision-making process. The European Travel Advocacy Coalition (ETAC) will strive to achieve this goal through a variety of tools which include conducting extensive grassroots and grasstops outreach campaigns, coordinating comprehensive efforts, bringing industry leaders and government officials together to discuss issues critical to travel and tourism.

We will seek to bring together stakeholders with an interest in travel and tourism including National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), National Tourism Authorities (NTAs), Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs), Destination Management Organisations (DMOs)/Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs), Industry Travel Associations at both EU and Member State Level, Corporations e.g. Hotels, Airlines, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators), Trade Shows and Events Organizers, Colleges/Universities, NGOs and the Media.

Combining Expertise for Common Action

• A common advocacy platform to promote and mainstream tourism competitiveness at the European level and ensure it is a political priority;
• A one-stop shop for stakeholders and policy makers looking for information, advice and feedback on travel and tourism policy;
• A place to share intelligence on the latest political and tourism development and stay informed about the debate about tourism.

We want political leaership at the EU and Member State level to provide a vision and direction for a well functioning European tourism market.

Organisation

General Assembly: Members and the General Assembly meet twice a year to set a direction for advocacy activities and appoint the Steering Committee. Members are European businesses, professional, local authorities and tourism organisations that represent various interests and fields of expertise.

Steering Committee: The Steering Committee defines the Coalition's strategic priorities and drives the main actions of the Coalition. The Steering Committee appoints the Secretary General.

Working Groups: Working Groups serve as the main platform open to all members to exchange information, discuss specific topics and develop and implement Coalition activities in coordination with the Steering Committee. There are two Working Groups: Advocacy and Communications.

Secretariat

The Secretariat manages the daily activities of the Coalition. It provides:

• General management and representation;
• Monitoring for the Members in a regular and relevant manner;
• Facilitation of information exchange;
• Drafting and preparation of position papers and communications; and
• Facilitation of meetings with decision-makers and experts and public events of the Coalition.

Friends of the Coalition: The Friends of the Coalition help and support the Coalition's efforts to create a prosperous, sustainable and competitive European travel and tourism market.

Member State Partners: The Coalition works in close relations with organisations in Member States active in national level advocacy efforts.

How to become a Member

The European Travel Advocacy Coalition (ETAC) is an open platform that brings together European businesses, professional, local authorities, tourism organisations with diverse backgrounds in order to support the common objective of a dynamic and proactive European tourism policy.

To know more about how to become a Member, please contact the Secretariat of the Coalition hosted by the Association of Accredited Public Policy Advocates to the European Union (AALEP) www.aalep.eu. E-mail: aalep@numericable.be. Tel: + 32 2 330 51 76.