The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report drafted Brian SIMPSON (S&D, UK) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European Statistics on tourism.
It recommended that the European Parliament’s position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should be to amend the Commission proposal as follows:
Same-day visits: for the purposes of analysing the various travel patterns, as is necessary in order correctly to formulate policies in the sector and business strategies, Members consider it necessary to distinguish statistically between those travelling as genuine tourists and those travelling from place to place within the space of a single day for different reasons, particularly in cross-border regions.
Limited delegation of powers: Members consider that the delegation of powers to the Commission to adopt delegated acts should be limited to nonessential elements of the Regulation. The subjects covered and information required should be subject to the ordinary legislative procedure.
Furthermore, the delegation of powers should be time-limited (with automatic extension in the absence of a revocation of the delegation by the European Parliament and the Council).
Tourism satellite accounts (TSAs): Members suggest measures to introduce the development of tourism satellite accounts. They propose that the Commission shall draw up a programme under which Member States shall carry out pilot studies into developing tourism satellite accounts showing the effects of tourism on the economy and jobs. The results of the pilot studies shall be evaluated and published by the Commission. If these results show that harmonised tables for tourism satellite accounts need to be compiled, then the Commission shall take appropriate action, including the submission of a legislative proposal, in order to address this issue adequately.
Moreover, with a view to enhancing the knowledge base for the promotion of sustainable tourism, it is proposed that the Commission draws up a programme for pilot studies to be carried out by Member States on a voluntary basis in order to develop a system for the compilation of data showing the effects of tourism on the environment.
Evaluation report: within five years after the entry into force and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall submit an evaluation report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the statistics compiled pursuant to this Regulation and on their relevance.