AALEP LAUNCHES EUROPEAN TRAVEL ADVOCACY COALITION (ETAC)

Situation Analysis

Efforts by airlines, distributors and online and offline travel agents to influence EU policy-making have been fragmented to date. On issues of common concern such as travel facilitation, inter modality, market access and a consistent consumer protection regime, messages have been muted due to a lack of cooperation and coordination. The European travel industry needs to engage policy makers with one voice to create more impact and deliver better policies for businesses and consumers. Hence, the need to highlight the sector’s value in job creation, its contribution to European GDP and the value travel and tourism brings to all four corners of Europe.

The creation of ETAC will ensure that the needs and priorities of travel and tourism are recognised, debated and addressed at the highest political levels with the goal of delivering a fully functioning travel market in Europe.

The Role of ETAC

ETAC’s core strategic priority will be to advocate on behalf of the collective travel industry within the European Union and to ensure that the concerns and interests of the travel community, and all those employed by it, are effectively represented within the EU decision-making process. 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.

Key Objectives

• Research and communicate the impact of travel;
• Enhance and leverage the industry’s influence;
• Cultivate constructive cooperation and interest among corporations, organizations, and individuals participating in the European travel industry;
• Engage, inform and mobilize the industry;
• Provide a forum for members in which to network and act on matters affecting corporations, travel, and their individual interests;
• Advocate and protect the interests of members and their corporations or organizations on legislative and regulatory matters (ease processes, remove barriers, manage threats to travel)

 Targeted Coalition Members

1. National Tourism Organization (NTO), National Tourism Authority (NTA), Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO)
2. Destination Management Organisations (DMOs)/Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs)
3. Travel Associations
4. Corporations (Hotels, Airlines, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators)
5. Media Friends
6. Trade Shows and Events Organizers
7. Colleges/Universities/NGOs

Proposed Advocacy Action Plan

Travel and destination movers-and-shakers in Europe must think globally but act locally to influence policy and political change. This means professionals in Europe need to unite under the message of tourism as an economic and job engine, but then ‘individually’ roll up their sleeves at the EU and national level to educate, communicate and build critical relationships with policy makers.

Specific Actions

1. Identify the key people in government (at both EU and national level) who influence tourism policy;
2. Establish and strengthen relationships with Member State government stakeholders as well as with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and EU Commission officials;
3. Develop advocacy materials that show how the tourism industry drives business and jobs in Member States and beyond;
4. Feed key politicians and influencers a steady stream of real-time, localized and tourism impact data, such as how many jobs are supported, how much revenue is brought in, and what looming issues could negatively affect tourism and subsequently jobs and tax revenues;
5. Have industry members tell about challenges or barriers they’re facing on visas, custom issues, transportation and aviation needs;
6. Help to block legislation that would deeply cut government tourism budgets;
7. Develop a Pan-European Travel coalition as a grassroots advocacy programme;
8. Become more effective story tellers and partner with the media to communicate how tourism help combat economic and business worries by generating employment, promoting cities, supporting local communities and aiding in the understanding of local culture.

 Key Issues to be addressed 

• A competitive tax and regulatory regime
• Minimising visa requirements and improving related processes
• 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
• Proper management of environmental resources
• Impact on travel and tourism of sector-specific and other regulation