EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 9J
Recommendations for a self-propagating sector in Europe
The European Tourism Agenda 2030 is the roadmap outlined by Brussels, alongside pending measures such as improving passenger rights or workforce qualifications.
Silvia Martínez | Brussels
While there is no open political debate at the European level on the future of the tourism sector, a resolution adopted by the European Parliament in 2021 on sustainable tourism calls on the European Commission to respect the right of local authorities to regulate”Against the harmful effects of overtourism” and taking into account the conditions of the most extreme regions, such as the Canary Islands, in tourism-related legislation.
Additionally, some political parties included references to tourism in their campaign manifestos for the European elections. This is the case of the European People’s Party, which in its election manifesto promises to “strengthen the tourism sector” and “promote the rich cultural heritage”, which will also contribute to the revival of tourism in the EU. A sector greatly affected by the covid outbreak”.
Tourism is also a concern for the Greens, but in their case they “short term tourist rental” To ensure that housing in cities remains affordable and rents are kept low. The same goes for the European left, which emphasizes the impact of tourist activities on access to housing, one of the challenges faced by many Spanish regions. importance of biodiversity.
The European Union lacks the direct powers over tourism that Member States have, but has shown that it has the tools to shape and respond to the tourism sector. It employs more than 12 million people and accounts for 10% of European GDP. The Lisbon Treaty reform, which entered into force in 2009, laid the foundations for developing a European tourism policy by committing, for the first time, to increase the competitiveness of tourism companies and develop an integrated approach in its article 195.
This commitment has been realized in recent years with the European Tourism Agenda 2030, which establishes a broad set of communications, decisions, measures and a long list of tasks and proposals to be developed by the regions, Member States and the Community Government in line with the following: Transition road map in tourism It was accepted by Brussels.
Among the ongoing measures in the European pipeline from this list review of passenger rightsprotection of package travel consumers or creation of common space Improving data on mobility, developing comprehensive tourism strategies that should be ready by 2025, or implementing a skills agreement to improve job qualifications in an area that has real problems finding workers in the tourism sector by 2030 at the latest. Lack of education.