Published: 25.5.2016
Tourism is a crucial engine for economic growth and job creation in many European countries, particularly during the summer. However, this sector needs investment and modernising, as well as a particular attention on seasonal workers. This is why Socialists and Democrats want a specific European plan for tourism.
The S&D Group has been working with other political groups in the European Parliament in order to discuss a common Manifesto to boost tourism. The Manifesto was introduced in the TRAN Committee and the Socialists and Democrats will discuss it next week.
István Ujhelyi, Vice-Chair of TRAN and Chair of Tourism Task Force, who just came back from the First World Conference on Tourism for Development hosted by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Beijing said:
„The tourism industry sees the biggest and fastest growth in the global economy, this is the case in Europe, in the US, and in Asia. In Europe, tourism produces almost 10% of EU GDP, has created 25 million jobs and has an annual output value of around 350 billion Euros. We want those jobs to be quality jobs. And we must keep Europe’s leading role in Tourism”
“The Tourism Manifesto for Growth and Jobs is an excellent tool to maintain a structural dialogue among the institutions and industry to speak with a common voice on tourism.”
S&D Coordinator on Transport and Tourism, Ismail Ertug MEP, said:
„In order to unleash the full potential of tourism in Europe we need to lay the foundations for the sector: investing and improving transport infrastructure, developing our rich and diverse cultural networks and heritage sites, as well as protecting rural areas and nature reserves. Furthermore, we need to invest in our workers by providing excellent training opportunities. Tourism has been one of our political priorities during the last two years and we will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector.”
24/05/2016