/ Interview with MEP Claudia Tapardel, Member of the Transport & Tourism Committee
1) With 2018 at its start, what are the priorities of the Tourism intergroup of the European Parliament for this year?
The members of the Tourism Intergroup subscribe to the belief that sustainability is the only way forward and that tourism needs to bring not just economic benefits, but it has to also protect the environment and communities. Consequently, our projects and activities for the coming years are extremely diverse, but generally following three main objectives.
The key issue for us remains to have in place a European Strategy for Tourism, which could align the objectives of all member states and regions for the long term. The critical aspect is having aseparate budget line for tourism and be able to finance projects independently from other policies of the EU. Tourism is not a side element of regional development or culture, it is a proper policy that deserves the attention - and resources - of policy makers in Brussels and beyond.
An EU Strategy would allow a coordinated approach to tourism, beginning with identifying untapped resources and markets. My belief is that the future of EU tourism depends on promoting alternative locations - the ones I like to call the hidden jams - which are perhaps unknown for the time being, but which are equally beautiful as other more famous ones. As a Romanian MEP I can tell you, for example, that my country has lots to offer, from the sandy shores of the Black Sea to the ski resorts and well-preserved villages in Transylvania. But this is not just Romania; all over Europe there are many places that simply haven’t been discovered yet, but that, once marketed properly, could become tourist attractions. And this was precisely my goal with one of the pilot projects I submitted in 2017 and will receive finance for implementation this year. In the context of continued growth - and much of it coming from Asia - I believe we have a real chance now to redefine European tourism as more than just a trip Paris and Rome - two beautiful, but oversaturated cities - but as a journey through real European diversity.
Promoting different regions requires however that we look again at the issue of connectivity. How are we going to get tourists from one country to another or from capital cities to remote areas? This question might be easy to answer in some parts of Europe, but challenging in others. Also, how do we cater for the growing expectations of visitors? The profile of the modern traveller is very complex, with a strong emphasis on immediate access to information. To reconcile all these expectations, I think it is crucial we invest in innovation and digitalisation.
We need new and bright ideas to bring new life into the services that we offer in tourism. We talk about the single market, but can we really have seamless travel with a ticket for all modes of transport, all of this available just a click away? This is just one of the ideas I have worked on in my capacity as Co-Chair of the Tourism Intergroup, and will continue to do so, particularly under the umbrella of the new event concept I launched last year in Madrid - Connecting Europe through Innovation. This year, on 17 May I intend to bring all key players in the mobility and tourism sectors to Bucharest to discuss - in the presence of Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry and SMEs, Elzbieta Bienkowska, about what technology can do for connectivity and travel services, especially from the angle of integrating ICT into physical infrastructures and creating the right regulatory framework for the ever-growing collaborative economy.
The third objective for the next years refers to people. One of the key challenges for tourism is the lack of qualified work force, which is very much connected to the fact that people tend to see tourism jobs are temporary, at best as merely a stepping stone towards something better. To change this misconception, we need to show that hospitality jobs can become a gratifying career, with real benefits. My view is that one way to do this is by investing in a European Academy for Tourism, where those interested in this field can acquire real skills and be able to offer the services that will allow Europe to remain the number one destination in the world. And by skills I do not mean just those associated with managing an accommodation or serving guests, but also digital skills, in tune with the rapid digitalisation of the sector that we are currently witnessing.
2) The next European elections and renewal of the European Parliament will take place in less than 16 months. In your opinion, what can already be said about this Parliament’s legacy on tourism ?
To answer this question let me begin by stating some facts.
During this legislature, a few colleagues and I created the Intergroup for Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage, the very first in the history of the European Parliament. We are now more than 140 members from all countries and political groups, and our aim is to show particularly to the European Commission and other colleagues in Parliament that tourism is more than leisure; it is a fully-fledged policy topic that deserves to be at the top of the EU agenda. Since 2014 we have developed countless actions and projects that approach tourism in connection with connectivity, regional development, transport, culture and skills and professional development.
Secondly - and also for the first time in the history of this House - several MEPs, including myself, have teamed up with tens of tourism organisation from Europe to create the Tourism Manifesto, a pact by which all of us who believe in tourism seek to communicate in a very coordinated manner about the challenges and opportunities of tourism, be that related to digitalisation, skills or overcrowding. The Manifesto members are now extremely active at EU level, the key goal being to develop a dedicated EU Tourism strategy with clear aims, objectives, indicators and actions, starting with a dialogue between stakeholders and EU institutions.
Lastly, I would also like to bring up another premiere which I consider exceptional. Last year, on 27 September, the European Parliament celebrated for the first time the World Day of Tourism. Together with President Antonio Tajani, I succeeded in bringing under the same roof eight Commissioners, Ministers and representatives of national administrations from all over Europe, the Presidents of the Committee of Regions and the Social and Economic Committee, as well as hundreds of stakeholders. It was a unique moment when the industry spoke with one voice and the EU began to listen.
I believe all these are prime examples of what constitutes the legacy of the Tourism Intergroup after its first four years of existence. We started from almost nothing, but we take pride in creating real momentum for an industry which few believed could have any contribution to the European economy. Most importantly perhaps, we have coagulated a critical mass of stakeholders, policy makers and officials, who are now committed to keep the ball rolling and make tourism a priority for EU institutions.