The tourism sector calls on MEPs to vote next week on the approval of the Sustainable Tourism Intergroup

HOTREC presents its policy recommendations for the new EU mandate: make hospitality the cornerstone of sustainable tourism development in Europe

    The tourism sector calls on the Members of the European Parliament to vote within their political groups in support of the re-establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Intergroup. Due to its horizontal nature, its positive impact in the EU economy, and its many challenges, tourism deserves to be heard through a dedicated intergroup. In economic terms, tourism is the 3rd largest socio-economic activity in Europe and the backbone of the EU economy. It supports 27,3 million jobs, including 13 million direct jobs to the European economy, in 2 million enterprises and contributes by 10% to the EU GDP. The 2014-2019 Tourism Intergroup proved to play a valuable role to help coordinate all policy areas impacting tourism, therefore contributing to Europe’s growth and jobs. The Intergroup covered diverse topics, including visa and border management, sustainability, digitalisation, platform economy, food, health, consumer protection, tourism tax, accessibility, amongst others. By voting for its re-establishment, the Intergroup will foster a constructive and coordinated exchange of views between MEPs from various committees and other EU stakeholders on key topics, which will lead to balanced policy recommendations. The Intergroup will enable the joined up thinking between transport, energy, tourism, regional policy, allow engagement with broader sustainability discussions (e.g. emission targets). Tourism counts with the support of Commissioner-elect for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, who referred to tourism in his written replies to the European Parliament and its many challenges: mass tourism which is hardly sustainable; the emergence of new actors such as platforms and the necessity to have a skilled workforce. The diversity of these challenges require a dedicated platform for discussion, such as the Intergroup. The tourism sector counts on your support in the next week and calls upon your vote! For further information: www.hotrec.eu PRESS CONTACT: Marta Machado, +32 (0)2 513 63 23, [email protected]   NET is a network of representative trade associations from the private sector in European tourism. NET's purpose is to develop common goals for the industry and work with policy-makers and other partners to achieve them. Tourism is central to Europe's economic prospects. It contributes to more than 10% of EU's GDP and provides about 12 million jobs, largely in small and medium sized enterprises. Betweeb them, they make up the third largest socio-economic activity in the EU.