/ Interview with MEP Isabella De Monte, Member of the Transport & Tourism Committee

MEP Isabella De Monte (S&D, Italy) is member of the Transport & Tourism (TRAN) Committee and substitute member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. She was also the main rapporteur on the European Parliament report on new challenges and concepts for the promotion of tourism in Europe, as well as shadow opinion rapporteur on a European agenda for the collaborative economy. HOTREC asked MEP De Monte’s views on the role of platforms, on the Commission’s tourism agenda and on what can Europe do to attract further tourists.    

1) On 10 October, you hosted in the European Parliament a joint event with HOTREC on making the digital single market fair and transparent to boost jobs and growth in the tourism sector. How do you see the role of platforms and which actions should the EU take following the Digital Single Market mid-term review? Online platforms are bearing opportunities both for consumers and for businesses. However, especially in the tourism sector, competition among platforms seems to be rather restricted, with very few big players dominating the market. This situation is not ideal and the European Commission is doing right in analysing this current situation both thanks to the REFIT and the mid-term review of the DSM strategy and I hope that the necessary measures will be taken in order to set fair and transparent commercial practices and allow for balanced conditions among the different players and thus contributing to an effective online tourism market. Europe's competitiveness in the global tourism market can be further increased through more efficient and fair Digital Single Market, leaving the analogue industries their necessary freedom for development.

2) In Autumn 2015, you prepared a report of the European Parliament on new challenges and concepts for the promotion of tourism in Europe. What are your views on the current European Commission policy on tourism? What should be done urgently to boost growth and jobs in the tourism sector in Europe? A top priority for the European Commission shall be to tackle the challenge raised by the so-called collaborative economy, which provides for new opportunities in tourism by broadening the offer. However, in order to secure a healthy European tourism market as well as the sustainable growth also in terms of jobs, the collaborative economy should be regulated. It shall be clear that a fair and sustainably competitive European tourism market can only be ensured if we assure a level playing field. Thus I would support efforts by the Commission elaborating further more specific guidance to Member States regarding possible regulations on the collaborative economy.

3) According to the most recent statistics from the UNWTO, tourists arrivals in Europe grew by 6% in the first semester of 2017 compared to the same period last year, a growth witnessed also in European destinations recently affected by terror attacks. How can Europe better take advantage if this opportunity to attract further tourists? Europe has been for decades the unchallenged market leader for international tourists arrival. However, its market share is declining in a context of continued growth of tourism. To preserve Europe’s status of 1st tourism destination in the world, public authorities in Europe need to help the tourism sector being competitive on the international tourism market both in terms of price and about the value of the services and experience in Europe. On the first aspect of economic competitiveness, smart tax policies and the use of reduced VAT rates and the avoidance of or application of low additional tourism tax can help businesses offering competitive packages that can attract tourists from all over the world. On the second aspect, and in order to enhance the value of the experience, public authorities should help further the tourism sector in upgrading the skills of its workforce (through a stronger support to apprenticeship and vocational training) and supports investment in digitalisation and emerging tourism products. Moreover, a smart visa policy can help attracting further tourists from emerging source markets.