TOURISM OPERATORS AND INDUSTRY BODIES AS ENABLERS OF EU TOURISM PRIORITIES (2015-2020)

It is our view that tourism operators and industry bodies need to participate in or support the EU Tourism Priorities (2015-2020) as well as use, redefine and promote the deliverables. This includes integrating the work into their own sectoral strategies and plans and capitalizing on market opportunities.

The EU institutions need to work with the tourism operators to implement the EU Tourism Action. The level of response of tourism businesses is critical to the achievement of the EU Tourism Priorities. Key to this is not only individual response but the support and commitment of trade bodies and associations at a European, national and destination level, including sectoral associations and informal networks.

Here below  (as an illustration) is an Action Framework and the Responsibility of Tourism Businesses regarding one the top 8 Priorities i.e. the promotion of sustainability and responsible tourism.

1. Actively engage in destination managements bodies and processes.
2. Trade bodies and associations to support sustainability. Engage with support services and certification. Implement management systems in consultation with employees and representatives. Adopt sustainability criteria in purchasing/supply chain.
3. Include sustainability messages in marketing. Provide relevant information to guests.
4. Develop creative offers and price differentials.
5. Airlines to research and introduce cleaner technology. Promote attractive transport options. Provide relevant information to guests.
6. Respect labour laws and collective agreements. Improve HR planning and management. Work with employees and trade unions to improve employment conditions
7. Strengthen local sourcing of labour, goods and services. Strengthen local supply chain.
8. Establish environmental management systems. Participate in training and certification. Provide information for guests on conserving resources
9. Minimize impact of activities on nature. Invest in sensitive use of heritage buildings/resources and sustainable land management. Use and promote local produce and crafts. Support visitor contribution schemes.
10. Improve accessibility to their facilities. Participate in social tourism schemes.
11. All tourism businesses working internationally to adopt sound sustainability criteria themselves and through their supply chains. Provide relevant information to tourists.

A number of other kinds of organisations have also an important role to play in stimulating, monitoring, supplying and influencing more sustainable tourism e.g. education and research establishments, trade unions, consumer associations, NGOs, international organisations.

Here below  (as an illustration) is an Action Framework and the Responsibility of Other bodies regarding one the top 8 Priorities i.e. the promotion of sustainability and responsible tourism.

1. Educational/research bodies: Technical support for policy development, planning, management and application of indicators. Research on good practice. Sustainability training for destination managers. NGOs and Associations: Actively engage in destination management bodies and processes.
2. Educational/Research bodies: Include sustainability in career training. Develop and deliver focussed training courses on aspects of sustainability. Trade Unions: Promote dialogue with businesses and employers. Promote training. Consumer associations and NGOs: Engaging in identification of good practice and benchmarking
3. Educational/Research bodies: Include aspects of tourism/travel in school curricular on environment and sustainability. NGOs: Provide environmental and cultural information/interpretation about destinations. Consumer associations and NGOs: Promote sustainable travel to members.
4. Trade Unions: Encourage flexible holiday arrangements. Negotiate solutions to mitigate effects of seasonable employment. Consumer associations: Encourage off season travel.
5. NGOs and consumer associations: Provide travellers with information about alternative environmentally friendly possibilities. Advocating and campaigning for clearer transport options .
6. Educational/Research bodies: Strengthen tourism careers training. Offer life-long learning programmes. Trade Unions: Pursue the improvement of employment conditions in the sector. Work with enterprises and employees to raise and meet standards. Support training programmes. Help raise career profile of tourism.
7. Educational/Research bodies: Provide courses for businesses and staff on environmental management. NGOs/associations: Encourage business and tourists to be responsible.
8. Educational/Research bodies: Strengthen skills training in conservation and management. Conservation NGOs to support sustainable tourism as a conservation incentive
9. Trade Unions: Promote adherence to workers’ holiday entitlement. Promote social tourism schemes.
10. Educational/Research bodies: Support international exchange programmes on sustainable tourism. Trade Unions: Pursue compliance with core labour standards in all destinations. International organisations: Participate in joint initiatives with the EU, member states and third countries on integrating sustainability into tourism development. NGOs: Support capacity building for sustainable tourism.