EUROPEAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADVISORY GROUP (ETAG)

European Travel and Tourism Advisory Group (ETAG) is a membership association offering a communication platform for European travel and tourism organisations and tourism related stakeholders. It is focused on the development of effective networking and cooperation opportunities based on common interests of the tourism sector.

Key Working Principles

• To cooperate with all European travel and tourism organisations, tourism related stakeholders and EU institutions in order to achieve the objectives set out below.
• To develop a common vision and actions in the field of European travel and tourism whilst fully respecting differences in structure (legal, cultural, financial, human resources, etc.) and diverging positions and interests of European travel and tourism organizations and stakeholders.

Objectives

• To enhance communication and discussion of issues of common interest amongst European tourism and travel organisations and tourism related stakeholders;
• To put in place an efficient network to foster cooperation amongst European travel and tourism organisations and tourism related stakeholders;
• To use ETAG’s initiatives, projects, promotion to bring benefits and added value to European travel and tourism as a whole;
• To gain recognition for ETAG and its members at international level for their work and to promote the values they represent.

Activities

ETAG understands itself as an open communication platform where European travel and tourism organisations and tourism related stakeholders can meet as equal partners. It addresses tourism from a holistic perspective, and does not engage in lobbying for, or defending, individual interests.

Fields of cooperation between ETAG and European travel and tourism organisations or tourism related stakeholders (European travel and tourism) for support and strengthening of European travel and tourism.

• Ensures smooth cooperation and communication on a regular basis between the European travel and tourism organisations and tourism related stakeholders;
• Brings together forum of diverse sectors and stakeholders of European tourism;
• Facilitates communication and the distribution of information provided by European travel and tourism organizations;
• Initiates communication and discussion of issues of mutual concern and/or common interest.

 Actions/Projects/Monitoring

• Collects and circulate information, and participates in projects/activities proposed by European travel and tourism organisations;
• Monitors EU initiatives, grants, media exposure etc. related to European travel and tourism policy and inform European travel and tourism organisations;
• Initiates proposals for actions/projects of common interest to European travel and tourism organizations, European Parliament, European Commission, and / or other European or global institutions;
• Establishes and maintains permanent relationships with the EU institutions and raises the awareness and understanding of the socio-economic importance of European travel and tourism in general and the position of travel and tourism stakeholders in particular.

 Promotion

• Initiates and supports PR campaigns in order to promote the values and the work of European travel and tourism;
• Gathers market intelligence on European tourism and shares it through appropriate channels;
• Organizes, supports and attends conferences, workshops and other events relevant to European tourism.

 Governance and Internal Communication

• Organises General Assembly three times per year and additional meetings if necessary;
• Creates added value with ETAG’s website. UpdatesETAG’s web-platform and enables Members to find the latest information, exchange of best practices, highlights, etc.

ETAG Members

1. EDEN Network Association – European Destinations of Excellence
2. ETC -European Travel Commission
3. EUFED – European Union Federation of Youth Hostel Associations
4. EUROGITES – European Federation of Rural Tourism
5. FEG – European Federation of Tourist Guides Associations
6. IATM – International Association of Tour Managers
7. ISTO – International Social Tourism Organisation
8. NFI – Naturefriends International
9. WYSE TRAVEL – World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation