Transport and Tourism Committee insists on a budget line for sustainable tourism
In an open letter addressed to EU leaders, Transport and Tourism Committee MEPs call for dedicated funding for sustainable tourism in the next long-term EU budget.
The open letter states: “The Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism have been voicing their urgent concern since the very start of this crisis, naming the coordinated relaunch of the tourism sector at EU level an immediate strategic priority both for the EU institutions and for the Member States.”
The Committee regrets that calls for a dedicated budget line towards sustainable tourism have been repeatedly ignored.
“At this crucial stage of negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, and on the eve of the European Council meeting on July 17-18, the Members of Committee on Transport and Tourism call upon the EU Presidency and on each and every one of you, to reconsider how a dedicated budget line on sustainable tourism in the next multiannual financial framework could achieve a very significant difference for the sector,” adds the letter. “We recall here that the European Parliament’s mandate in the MFF negotiations specifically included a EUR 300 million allocation, earmarked towards sustainable tourism.”
The letter explains that thousands of companies in the tourism sector are facing insolvency and many others are barely staying afloat. In some EU countries, this has led to significant decreases in the country’s GDP and tax income. It also underlines that while allocating funds to tourism from various funds is commendable, it does little to help micro-enterprises and SMEs, as they struggle to understand the myriad of different funding opportunities and how to access them.
Read the open letter here.
Background
Earlier this week, Members of Parliament’s Tourism Task Force issued a statement reiterating their request for further action to support the sector, which is facing bankruptcies and massive layoffs caused by COVID-19 crisis.
Contacts:
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Inga HÖGLUND
Press officer