4 / 28
4
|
2018
|
2019 HOTREC ANNUAL REPORT
Third, the long negotiation of the EU code for short stay visas is in its final stage. The European Commission
put forward a balanced proposal that facilitates issuing short-term visas to travellers, while taking into account
migration and security concerns. Following the political agreement between the European Parliament and the
Council of the EU, the new rules should enter into force in January 2020. This will bring significant benefits to
travellers from third countries as well as the EU tourism industry, including the hospitality sector.
Finally, last year we celebrated with great success the EU-China Tourism Year. Throughout the year, together with
our Chinese partners, we held 15 high-level events and organised 10 large B2B matchmaking events for EU tourism
businesses with more than a thousand EU operators and more than 700 Chinese operators. Through participating
in major tourism fairs, television programmes and extensive online campaigns in China, we worked to promote
less known destinations in Europe and showcase our unique and rich natural, cultural and historical heritage. The
first results are encouraging: about 8 % increase in Chinese arrivals to the EU by September 2018 and almost 17%
increase in bookings from China for the first quarter of this year.
As you see, the European Commission has put many efforts into supporting the EU tourism sector in the last 5
years. More importantly, we put forward a comprehensive proposal that provides financial support for tourism
across a number of EU programmes and funds under the next Multi-annual Financial Framework beyond 2021. We
proposed targeted support to SMEs under the Single Market Programme; to research and innovation in tourism
under Horizon Europe; to public and private investments under the European Structural and Investment Funds and
InvestEU; and for synergies with culture and creativity under Creative Europe. Our ambition is that tourism industry
and tourism stakeholders will make the best use of these opportunities.
To conclude, let me thank again HOTREC for its constructive and proactive cooperation during the past years and
its active involvement in shaping the policy agenda for EU tourism.
FOREWORD BY MRS. ELŻBIETA BIEŃKOWSKA,
COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL MARKET,
INDUSTRY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMES