This report refers to the implementation of Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism. Chapter II of the report summarises the actions undertaken during the period 1996-1999 in terms of development of the information system, data collection, methodological follow-up and legal framework. The table in Annex I supplements the information about the legal framework. The progress by section in Member States following the structure of the Directive is described in Chapter III. Developments during the period 1996-1999 are included. The summary table in Annex 2 supplements the information presented in this chapter. Chapter IV introduces considerations of a general nature concerning the overall assessment of the implementation of the Directive. The result is a positive assessment. Nevertheless, there is an analysis and discussion of certain problems, in particular those relating to the consolidation of the progress achieved in implementing the Directive, delays in data transmission from some Member States to Eurostat and delays in assessing in depth the quality and reliability of the results. A future outlook is made in chapter V. It recommends continuing the implementation of the Directive; particularly to concentrate on examining the quality, reliability and comparability of the data, encourage regular data transmission and increase the transmission of the results. �