Developing a single European tourism policy

Abstract

Europe has for too long been without any coherent policy for tourism. The need for such a policy is becoming increasingly urgent in the face both of the future opportunities offered by the Single Market and of stiff competition for tourists from outside the continent. This article argues for a coordinated public-private sector approach and explains why it is needed, before outlining the steps taken towards its realization by the EC Commission and the European Parliament so far.