New EU Constitution puts Tourism back on the Map

Publication date: 21 June 2004

The newly agreed EU Constitution (page 209; provional consolidated version) has taken major strides to strengthen the European Institutions’ competence in the field of tourism.  Previously, European tourism activity was limited research and supporting actions.  This has been the case since the Maastricht Treaty of 1992.

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In the debate surrounding the new constitution, the place of tourism has been far from certain. Indeed, at one stage it appeared that tourism would not even be mentioned at a time when the United Nations was recognising the global importance of tourism and making the World Tourism Organisation an official UN agency.

Following sustained campaign activities by AIT & FIA, amongst others, tourism will now appear in the draft Constitution.  If ratified, the Constitution will give the European Institutions the competence to promote and develop the competitiveness of the European Tourism industry.

AIT & FIA, and their Member Organisations, welcome these developments and will continue to call for greater prominence to be given to one of Europe’s major industries.