The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Thierry CORNILLET (ALDE, FR) on tourism and development. (Please see the document of 23/05/2005.) The resolution was adopted by 368 votes in favour to 81 against and 17 abstentions. Parliament stated that tourism undeniably constitutes a driving force behind growth in developing countries at all levels. There is therefore a need for regular impact assessments and the Committee on Development of the European Parliament, in view of its competences, is ideally qualified for this task.

Tourism as a factor in economic growth: Parliament c alled for the promotion of locally controlled tourism initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of human rights. It recommended that the Commission stressed tourism policies within its relationship with the ACP countries. ACP governments should examine policies designed to guarantee 'planning gain' benefits for the local communities where tourism projects take place. Parliament insisted on the need to reinvest the profits of tourism in local development. It called on tour operators to review their 'all-inclusive' packages which prevent spin-off benefits to the local communities, and encourages these operators to source materials/staff locally as far as possible, including managerial staff. It also encouraged governments to promote the creation and/or development of public-private partnerships and to facilitate the setting-up of enterprises in the tourism sector. There should be an increase, where appropriate, in the proportion of sustainable tourism-oriented projects financed under the European Development Fund (EDF). Parliament noted that in many developing countries the tourism sector is fundamentally a private- sector activity, and that the Community must therefore find ways to ensure that the interested parties and other social partners are fully involved in all discussions regarding development policy affecting the tourism sector.

Tourism as a factor in environmental protection and heritage conservation: Parliament called for all European investments in tourism in developing countries to be subject to the same rules applicable to granting Community funding of investments within the EU. Thus, any investment which is manifestly detrimental to the environment, human rights, ILO core labour standards, the way of life of indigenous and autochthonous communities or the historical and cultural heritage of the recipient country must not be supported. It called on the Community to provide technical support to countries which, under the impact of mass tourism, are obliged to take measures to preserve their tourist sites. There should also be an exchange of best practices in this field. Local authorities which are confronted with an over-rapid tourist boom were encouraged to take measure to limit numbers where necessary.

Tourism as a factor in democracy and political equilibrium: Parliament a dvocated that criminal activity be combated with all transparency in order to discourage activities such as money laundering, sex tourism, etc. Such criminal activity should be combated in such a way as not to damage countries' tourist image. Governments of developing countries must ensure the full involvement of local communities in tourist activities and ensure the fair sharing of the economic, social and cultural benefits generated. Parliament deplored the recent segregationist measures taken by Cuban authorities with a view to preventing personal contact between tourists and Cuban citizens working in the tourism industry.

It called on the Member State governments and the Commission, with the support of tour operators and experienced organisations, to act to promote ethical standards in tourism by introducing a certified European Fair Trade Tourism label.

Tourism as a factor in public health and education: Parliament asked the Union and the Member States to make available to developing countries with tourist potential their experience and know-how with a view to the on-site training of personnel. It considered that sustainable tourism income may contribute to improving the standard of living of the population in the developing countries and to public health, as well as to communications, energy and technology infrastructures. There should be EU financial support for the World Tourism Organization initiative ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty) and other initiatives that work towards alleviating poverty in developing countries.

Tourism as a factor in disturbance and abuse: Parliament asked for the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to be incorporated by all countries into their national law. It asked the governments of the countries concerned to circulate among themselves an annual list of visa refusals, to be confined to grounds of sex tourism offences, crimes against humanity or terrorism. The Commission is also asked to adopt effective programmes to combat sex tourism at European level. Parliament went on to demand that the governments of the countries concerned and EU tour operators enforce human rights standards, workers' rights in accordance with ILO core labour standards, the protection of the European tourist-consumer and the recommendations concerning tour operators.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Thierry CORNILLET (ALDE, FR) on tourism and development. (Please see the document of 23/05/2005.) The resolution was adopted by 368 votes in favour to 81 against and 17 abstentions. Parliament stated that tourism undeniably constitutes a driving force behind growth in developing countries at all levels. There is therefore a need for regular impact assessments and the Committee on Development of the European Parliament, in view of its competences, is ideally qualified for this task.

Tourism as a factor in economic growth: Parliament c alled for the promotion of locally controlled tourism initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of human rights. It recommended that the Commission stressed tourism policies within its relationship with the ACP countries. ACP governments should examine policies designed to guarantee 'planning gain' benefits for the local communities where tourism projects take place. Parliament insisted on the need to reinvest the profits of tourism in local development. It called on tour operators to review their 'all-inclusive' packages which prevent spin-off benefits to the local communities, and encourages these operators to source materials/staff locally as far as possible, including managerial staff. It also encouraged governments to promote the creation and/or development of public-private partnerships and to facilitate the setting-up of enterprises in the tourism sector. There should be an increase, where appropriate, in the proportion of sustainable tourism-oriented projects financed under the European Development Fund (EDF). Parliament noted that in many developing countries the tourism sector is fundamentally a private- sector activity, and that the Community must therefore find ways to ensure that the interested parties and other social partners are fully involved in all discussions regarding development policy affecting the tourism sector.

Tourism as a factor in environmental protection and heritage conservation: Parliament called for all European investments in tourism in developing countries to be subject to the same rules applicable to granting Community funding of investments within the EU. Thus, any investment which is manifestly detrimental to the environment, human rights, ILO core labour standards, the way of life of indigenous and autochthonous communities or the historical and cultural heritage of the recipient country must not be supported. It called on the Community to provide technical support to countries which, under the impact of mass tourism, are obliged to take measures to preserve their tourist sites. There should also be an exchange of best practices in this field. Local authorities which are confronted with an over-rapid tourist boom were encouraged to take measure to limit numbers where necessary.

Tourism as a factor in democracy and political equilibrium: Parliament a dvocated that criminal activity be combated with all transparency in order to discourage activities such as money laundering, sex tourism, etc. Such criminal activity should be combated in such a way as not to damage countries' tourist image. Governments of developing countries must ensure the full involvement of local communities in tourist activities and ensure the fair sharing of the economic, social and cultural benefits generated. Parliament deplored the recent segregationist measures taken by Cuban authorities with a view to preventing personal contact between tourists and Cuban citizens working in the tourism industry.

It called on the Member State governments and the Commission, with the support of tour operators and experienced organisations, to act to promote ethical standards in tourism by introducing a certified European Fair Trade Tourism label.

Tourism as a factor in public health and education: Parliament asked the Union and the Member States to make available to developing countries with tourist potential their experience and know-how with a view to the on-site training of personnel. It considered that sustainable tourism income may contribute to improving the standard of living of the population in the developing countries and to public health, as well as to communications, energy and technology infrastructures. There should be EU financial support for the World Tourism Organization initiative ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty) and other initiatives that work towards alleviating poverty in developing countries.

Tourism as a factor in disturbance and abuse: Parliament asked for the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to be incorporated by all countries into their national law. It asked the governments of the countries concerned to circulate among themselves an annual list of visa refusals, to be confined to grounds of sex tourism offences, crimes against humanity or terrorism. The Commission is also asked to adopt effective programmes to combat sex tourism at European level. Parliament went on to demand that the governments of the countries concerned and EU tour operators enforce human rights standards, workers' rights in accordance with ILO core labour standards, the protection of the European tourist-consumer and the recommendations concerning tour operators.

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Thierry CORNILLET (ALDE, FR) on tourism and development. The report looked at tourism's impact in many different areas: economic growth, environmental protection and heritage conservation, democracy and political equilibrium, public health and education. It also took account of tourism as a factor of disturbance and abuse.

The committee called for the impact of tourism and the principles of sustainable tourism and good governance to be systematically and coherently taken into account when drawing up the EU's development policy. It added that, if tourism was to be sustainable, it must improve the lives of local people, protect their environment and health, and support the local economy by buying food and other resources locally. The profits of tourism should be reinvested in local development. In particular, MEPs called on tour operators to review their "all-inclusive packages" and to source materials and staff locally as far as possible. The report also stressed the urgent need for the Community to assist countries hit by natural disasters that affect their tourist industry.

The committee called for the establishment of sustainable tourism policies and regulations to protect and conserve natural resources, the cultural heritage and traditional land tenure systems. All European investments in tourism in developing countries must be subject to the same rules applicable to Community funding of investments within the EU, i.e. they must not be detrimental to the environment, human rights, labour standards, etc.

Developing-country governments were urged to ensure the full involvement of local communities in tourist activities and to ensure the fair sharing of the economic, social and cultural benefits generated. MEPs deplored the recent segregationist measures taken by Cuban authorities with a view to preventing personal contact between tourists and Cuban citizens working in the tourism industry.

Lastly, the committee called for the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism adopted by the World Tourism Organisation and its Member States in Santiago ( Chile ) in 1999 to be incorporated by all countries into their national law. It also urged the governments of the countries concerned to circulate among themselves an annual list of visa refusals, to be confined to the grounds of sex tourism offences, crimes against humanity or terrorism.