ECOSERT participates in a Workshop on Tourism and Transport in Strasbourg on 9 October 2003 In response to the need for greater integration of transport and tourism policies, planning and management, the Association for European Transport (AET) has taken the initiative of examining the impact of tourism on transport. It is given that research into tourism mobility, its wide ranging transport and travel requirements and the impacts that these potentially exert, touch upon several important issues that are crucial to the continued attractiveness of the European tourism product, sustainable development and cohesion. A one-day Workshop was held in Strasbourg on 9 October, as part of the 2003 European Transport Conference, organised by PTRC and chaired by Daniel Le Maire, Chairman of the AET Council. The aims of the Workshop were:  • To inform transport professionals about the latest initiatives and policy implications on tourism by European Union institutions and international organisations  • To exchange views between the tourism and travel industry, local government authorities and transport professionals on tourism issues  • To examine the integration of tourism and transport planning and management at the trans-European, national, regional and local levels  • To investigate the sustainable development of tourism through sustainable transport and mobility  • To present case studies of international travel and tourism, regional tourism demand analysis, sustainable tourism transport and urban tourism mobility issues  • To discuss the way ahead in tourism and transport planning and policy integration with both policy-makers and professionals. Attending the Workshop were representatives from central and local government, transport operators, academics, researchers and consultants, from France, UK, Greece, Spain, Austria, Portugal and Egypt. The Workshop was opened by Mr Reinhard Klein, Head of the Tourism Unit at the European Commission DG Enterprise, who stressed that transport is an important driver for tourism development. He stated that tourism demand grows by 7% pa in the EU, but 60% of travel is by car, 30% by air and 10% by rail and other modes. Railways are not succeeding in securing tourism travel market share, particularly in travel distances between 300 and 500 km where they are very competitive compared to air transport. The price is the most important aspect of the choice decision, but do people perceive the price correctly? Seamless travel is required for tourism development and the technological innovations in transport are the most developed ones for tourism (eg e-tickets, ticketless travel). Mr Klein stressed that transport is one of the two true common policies in the EU (the other being agriculture). The EC monitors and influences EU legislation for transport as an important factor for tourism. Some 30% of the legislation for the tourism sector comes from transport, the largest contributor. The EC plans to publish a Communication on Passenger Rights in 2004, as well as on hidden subsidies of airports for low-cost airlines and intermodal transport. Some 12% of the EU GDP is due to tourism and travel is part of this, but there are also some additional aspects contributing to the GDP. Tourism and transport issues will also affect the Accession countries joining the EU in 2004. Environmental issues of tourism and transport are important, especially related to pollution from car and air travel. Mr Klein informed the Workshop that the EC is currently in the process of finalising the Communication on the Sustainability of European Tourism, including transport sustainability issues, following the publication of the Communication on "Working Together for the Future of European Tourism" in November 2001. Mr Eugenio Yunis, Head of Sustainable Development of Tourism at the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), explained that WTO will soon be a full agency of the UN and that it is contributing to the initiatives on climatic change. He stressed the need for tourism to be included and fully integrated in National Economic Development Policies and Regional Planning. In terms of international issues affecting tourism and transport, the most important are: seasonality, incentives for public transport use, high speed rail such as TGV, AVE competing with short- to mid-range air travel, consumer awareness, voluntary initiatives including ecolabels as well as indicators of sustainable tourism. The current WTO activities in this field include: sustainable tourism planning and management guidelines for local authorities, Local Agenda 21 where transport is one of ten priority areas, a manual of indicators to be published in 2004 with a chapter on transport, voluntary initiatives (including review of 104 ecolabels), certification including an accreditation system for certifiers where transport is considered, as well as accessibility and congestion issues in historic towns. Mr Yunis informed that the WTO has contributed to the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism (World Ecotourism Summit in 2002) and to the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. The WTO intends to publish a guide to congestion management in tourist destinations in 2004, with emphasis on transport and accessibility. It also runs the Tour Operators Initiative (TOI) jointly with UNEP, which includes work on supply chain management for destinations and hotels. Mr Yunis made a specific suggestion for a partnership between WTO and AET for tourism and transport integration, taking Europe as a pilot region. The next speaker was Manos Vougioukas, of EuroTrans Consulting and Project Manager of the ECOSERT project on planning for sustainable tourism and travel (in the EU Recite II inter-regional co-operation programme). He presented the linkages that exist between tourism, travel and transport in so far as tourism development depends heavily on travel services and transport systems. Transport flows are increasing related to tourism as the latter becomes the number one sector of the World economy. Transport congestion is caused by tourism but congestion itself also generally hinders tourism development. The EU has several initiatives on sustainable tourism and also on sustainable transport, but with no systematic integration between the two sectors. After presenting the results of the ECOSERT project in terms of a tried and tested methodology and guidelines for tourism planning and environmental management of tourism areas and activities based on EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme), the following research needs were identified: measures to integrate tourism and transport at all levels; tourism product, travel and destination choice determinants; modelling and evaluation tools for integrated and systematic travel, transport and tourism planning; visitor management techniques, enhancing and adapting EMAS to combined travel/tourism operations, policy analysis including related areas (environment, cohesion, employment), and networking of local government authorities and stakeholders. The following suggestions to AET were made: to establish a "Tourism & Travel" Committee or a Special Interest Group with the possibility for a specific stream in the annual European Transport Conference; to provide a forum for tourism professionals involved in travel and transport and transport professionals involved in tourism; and to include historic forms of transport (tourist steam railways, canals) and transport museums, as transport heritage tourist attractions. A series of tourism and transport case studies were presented by other speakers that included: John Noulton of Eurotunnel, who presented the UK/France cross-Channel travel and tourism market and the role of Eurotunnel transport services in breaking down barriers; Cllr Paul Roberts and Mike Dix of Chester City Council, who presented the initiatives on sustainable transport for sustainable tourism in the Dee Estuary, UK (also as part of the ECOSERT project); Rui Pimenta of New University of Lisbon, who presented a research approach on sustainable mobility of tourists in urban areas; Prof Gerd Sammer from Institute for Transport Studies, Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur in Vienna, who presented a case study on the reduction of peak traffic in winter tourism for an Alpine skiing region in Austria; and Dr Alexandros Deloukas, Hellenic Institute of Transportation Engineers, Greece, who addressed the analytical issues of tourism travel demand and presented a case study on tourism demand analysis in time and space based on evidence in southern Greece. In the closing session of the Workshop a panel discussion took place moderated by Peter O'Donnell, Editor of the Brussels-based "European Travel Policy". The panel members included (in addition to Reinhard Klein and Eugenio Yunis), Mr Michel Houee of the Observatoire National de Tourism in France, Mr Antonio Garcia of transport operator, FCC Connex in Spain and Dr Nikolos Bogiazides of the Department of Planning and Regional Development, Tourism Planning Research and Policy Unit, University of Thessaly in Greece, The debate focused on links between tourism and transport policy in the EU, the specific needs and priorities of central government, local government, operators and research institutions and the way ahead for closer integration of tourism and transport initiatives and development. The main conclusion of the debate and the Workshop was that there is significant activity and particular interest in the transport community regarding tourism and travel issues and there is a need for closer co-operation by all stakeholders of tourism and transport sectors and policies. The Workshop Chairman, Mr Daniel Le Maire concluding on behalf of AET agreed that there should be more attention given to tourism and transport integration and informed that a decision on the role of AET in this process would be taken by the AET Council and the Executive Board of the Conference.