19 Amendments of Theodoros ZAGORAKIS related to 2014/2241(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that, in order to differentiate the European tourism product from that of other countries/continents, it is very important to develop new forms of thematic tourism which can operate on the basis of transnational and/or even transregional cooperation; believes that the systematic promotion of thematic tourism products may not only allow the entire European tourism product to be redefined, but may also be vital in combating the effects of seasonality;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers EU initiatives such as the ‘European Capitals of Culture’ and the ‘European Cultural Heritage Label’ to be are particularly important for promoting European heritage and therefore calls on the Commission and the Member States to encourage the implementation of programmes for the restoration, conservation and protection of sites of cultural and historical interest, with a view to making them more accessible to tourists;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Draws attention to the crucial role played by cultural education in generating demand for high-quality, sustainable and inclusive cultural tourism; calls for better use to be made of the opportunities digitisation and innovation afford for more effective promotion of European cultural tourism, religious, educational, sporting, exploratory, gastronomic and ecological tourism and agritourism; calls for better use to be made of the opportunities digitisation and innovation afford for promotion of the above forms of European tourism; stresses the need to extend and consolidate digitisation platforms for cultural resources and archives; underlines the importance of tourism as a means of cultural diplomacy and outreach to other peoples;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Commission's Digital Tourism Platform and its objectives of boosting the innovation capacity of tourism-related SMEs for the purpose of activating the tourism sector and of generating suggestions for how to adapt and shape policies aimed at further developing the tourism sector; notes that better use of innovative products and services in the tourism sector might help to make tourism-related undertakings in general and SMEs in particular more viable; believes that better use of innovative products and services in the tourism sector might help to make tourism-related undertakings in general and SMEs in particular more viable; for that reason stresses the need to strengthen the innovativeness and technological development of micro enterprises and SMEs and notes the huge prospects for the development of thematic/alternative forms of tourism provided by the Internet and innovative new communication technologies;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that better use of innovative products and services in the tourism sector could significantly help tourist companies, especially SMEs, and make them more sustainable; stresses the need to foster innovation and technological development in micro-enterprises and SMEs, and points to the major opportunities for the development of thematic/alternative forms of tourism through use of the Internet and new communications technologies;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. PConsiders that tourism is an inalienable social right, which should be upheld with regard to all new forms of tourism developed over the coming years; points out that access needs to be made more universal by taking into account, in particular, the needs of people with disabilities, families with children and older persons and adapting the facilities and services on offer accordingly; stresses the need for future tourism policy in Europe to focus on the needs of tourists with disabilities; notes that, in this context, innovative projects, tools and products to facilitate access for persons with impaired mobility should be promoted at European level;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points out that Europe's cultural heritage makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and that cultural tourism, which is of key importance in boosting growth and employment, accounts for 40 % of European tourism and could be instrumental in addressing the current economic and employment crisis, making use of skills and local capacities, while contributing to the development of a sustainable tourism accessible to all; emphasises that, in order to maintain current tourist volumes and attract new tourists, Europe's cultural and natural heritage needs to be conserved and showcased and the right balance needs to be struck between expanding the tourism sector and protecting cultural heritage; stresses the obligation to support, enhance and promote UNESCO world heritage monuments in Europe and the universal value thereof;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that tourism is an inalienable social right which should be safeguarded in all new forms of tourism promoted over coming years; recalls that access must be secured for a larger number of people, paying particular attention to the needs of disabled persons, families with children and the elderly, by adapting the infrastructures and services provided; stresses the need to ensure that future tourism policy in Europe takes account of the needs of disabled tourists; within that framework, considers it advisable to promote innovative programmes, mechanisms and products at European level to facilitate independent access for persons with mobility difficulties;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines the importance of improving mutual recognition by Member States of professional qualifications in the tourism industry, in order to enable the industry’s workers to find the best possible career prospects and thus encourage their mobility;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks the Commission to bolster existing European measures and programmes relating to cultural tourism and cultural heritage that have proved effective, to look into the feasibility of introducing a 'European cultural card' which would offer reduced entrance fees for museums, monuments, archaeological sites, libraries, theatres and so on, and to provide targeted financial support under EU instruments including the Structural Funds.; stresses also the importance of European routes in highlighting our common European identity and stresses the need to continue funding for the development of new 'European routes' and the conservation of existing ones; calls on the Commission to consider the effective promotion and institutional upgrading of initiatives such as the ‘European Capital of Sport’ and the ‘European Youth Capital’;
Amendment 93 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the contribution of civil society in promoting new forms of tourism, through social networks, voluntary organisations, cultural and sports associations, citizens action groups, and organisations representing young people, women and expatriate communities;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes the need for an integrated approach to tourism, especially in the consumer services and consumer protection sector and highlights the importance of adopting quality criteria and joint safety standards for tourism services;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Takes the view that, in order to differentiate European tourism from that of other countries or continents, it is crucial to develop new thematic forms of tourism, possibly involving cross-border or interregional cooperation; believes that the systematic promotion of thematic (oenological, gastronomic, rural, religious, artistic, visual, cultural conference educational, exploratory etc.) tourism could not only to redefine European tourism as a whole but also play an important role in combating the effects of seasonality;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Considers it appropriate to develop new forms of tourism in the EU, and for the Commission, Member States and regions regularly to support and promote the organisation of cultural events, music festivals, art exhibitions and initiatives related to culture, food, photography, theatre and cinema; calls on the Commission to step up support for such initiatives under existing programmes such as 'Creative Europe' and consider new ways of providing support;
Amendment 100 #
7b. Considers that it would be advisable to examine ways of supporting SMEs and sole proprietorships in the tourism sector through funding mechanisms to strengthen their liquidity at reasonable cost, provide incentives to invest in the development of their infrastructure and services and cut the red tape surrounding their development;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses the prospects for sports tourism, which could in future become one of the most dynamic sectors in the developing European travel industry, and calls for the introduction of specific policies to promote and support this development; considers that various types of sports tourism, such as cycling, mountaineering, diving, boating, sailing and fishing, offer active alternatives that could attract tourists to even the most remote areas of Europe; urges the Commission and the Member States systematically to promote tourism involving sports, physical exercise and healthy activities and encourage initiatives relating to traditional sports at national, regional or local level;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Notes also the opportunities arising during sports events from the movement of athletes and spectators and the hosting of sports clubs in in the run-up to such events and, in view of its potential wider benefits, calls for measures to promote this particular form of sports tourism and encourage cooperation at European level;
Amendment 102 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Underlines the importance of a highly skilled workforce in the tourism sector and calls for measures to enhance the quality of education through the use of mobility and lifelong learning programmes; calls on the Member States and local and regional authorities to take full advantage of the vocational training tools offered by the ESF and other EU, national, regional and local funds;
Amendment 103 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5g. Stresses the advantages of a ‘dual’ education system in the tourism sector and the importance of combining learning with hands-on work experience, thereby improving both theoretical knowledge and practical skills; considers that EU initiatives such as the ‘Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs' and ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ programmes offer unique opportunities for training and the acquisition of professional skills and should therefore be further consolidated and promoted;