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ALPINE CONVENTION | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE ALPS
National contributions
Austria In Austria, at the national level, tourism policy lies within the purview of the Federal Minister of Economy, Family and Youth (BMWFJ). A Department for Tourism and Historic Objects was created, within the BMWFJ, in order to elaborate strategic guidelines for the Austrian tourism policy; secure the flow of information; operate as a platform for all persons working in tourism and for national and international organizations; deploy financial means and represent federal interests within the Austrian National Tourist Office. In 2006, the Austrian Parliament established the parliamentary committee for tourism. In 2010, the BMWFJ launched in close cooperation with the nine “Länder” and all relevant tourism stakeholders the national Tourism Strategy (www.bmwfj.gv.at/ TOURISMUS/Seiten/Tourismusstrategie.aspx). Therefore a steering committee consisting of representatives from the “Länder” and the Ministry was established. Each year the Federal Minister together with high representatives of the “Länder” sign an action plan with concrete topics and measures for the following year. Furthermore, an Advisory Council (independent tourism experts) was set up, with the task to report at the annual Austrian highlevel tourism conference, on recent trends and current challenges and recommend further procedures and measures. The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) - Österreich Werbung (ÖW) is the country’s national tourism marketing organization. It receives basic funding from the Ministry (75%) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (25%). At the beginning 2012 the new “Allianz Tourismus Marketing” was established, in order to intensify the cooperation in the Austrian tourism. It consists of the ANTO and the nine “Länder” Tourism Organizations and meets at least 4 times a year. In addition, new boards were established such as the ANTO-Tourism day (once a year) and project related platforms for selected source markets and themes (e.g. health, culture, hiking, bike) in order to coordinate the tourism marketing and to avoid duplication. In February 2012, the ANTO published a discussion paper on “Sustainability in Tourism” showing how the Austrian tourism industry could treat this issue. It also includes requirements and visions for sustainable tourism products and services, and it shows examples of
good practice. (www.austriatourism.com/media/8998/Nachhaltigkeit_ Positionspapier.pdf). Social partners and other specific tourism organizations are complementary actors in Austrian tourism: • the Federal Economic Chamber WKÖ is representing among others by compulsory membership the interests of all leisure and tourism entrepreneurs; • the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour AK is representing among others the interests of the tourism labour force; • the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) is also a specialized bank owned by the Federal Republic of Austria and entrusted with providing business related economic support to SMEs; • Statistics Austria, a former Federal Agency, is in charge of collecting and disseminating data on tourism statistics. There are two major tourism associations at national level which represent the interests of their members (voluntary membership) - the Association of Austrian Hoteliers (ÖHV) and the Association of Austrian travel agencies and tour operators (ÖRV). Due to the Austrian constitution, the “Länder” governments are responsible for tourism and issue their own tourism laws regulating the organization of tourism also at regional and local level. At local level each Mayor is also co-responsible for the tourism development in his/ her community/destination. Besides dealing with tourism issues, each of the “Länder” has its own organization in charge of promoting tourism in and outside Austria. The “Länder” are also service organizations for local tourism organizations and enterprises. At regional and local level there are more tourist organizations working on image building, organizing events and other activities.
France In 2007, French tourism at national level came under the responsibility of the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment after years of being under the responsibility of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport. Within this Ministry, the Sub-Directorate for Tourism (Sous-Direction du Tourisme or SDT) is part of the Directorate-General for Competitiveness, Industry and Services (DGCIS), and is mainly in charge of enforcing regulations and maintaining relations with relevant institutions (WTO, European insitutions, other ministries,
ALPINE CONVENTION | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE ALPS
local authorities etc.) and professional actors, and for leading special work groups. Atout France, an Economic Interest Grouping (EIG), is the primary public instrument for the development of French tourism. Its activity area of competence consists of observation and monitoring, support, expertise, development and training, the promoting of France’s image abroad as a tourist destination (its network consists of 35 offices abroad and 250 experts, and the CRTs at a regional level) and the classification of accommodation. The EIG is a partnership among the State, local authorities and enterprises. Every Autumn France Atout organises the Rencontres nationales du tourisme (national tourism meetings) an opportunity for all tourism actors to meet and receive guidelines for the following year from the Minister responsible for tourism. The National Council of Tourism, chaired by the Minister, is the collective consultation forum for the State and tourism operators. An Interministerial Committee on Tourism may be convened if required, and twice a year Communications relating to the Winter and Summer seasons are presented to the Council of Ministers.
The State authorities Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industry and other Ministries State supervised bodies Atout France (see above); National agency for vacation vouchers (ANCV) for social tourism and vacation assistance Main national federations based on local and regional entities: National federation of regional tourism Committees (FNCRT); National federation of departmental tourism Committees (FNCDT); National federation of tourism offices and associations for the promotion of tourism (FNOTSI); National association of mayors of classified resorts and tourist communes; National association of mayors of health resorts; Federation of green resorts; National council of Floral Towns and Villages of France; National association of mayors of mountain resorts (ANMSM); Federation of regional natural parks Main professional federations National Union of Travel Agents (SNAV, integrating e-commerce); Professional Association of Tourism Solidarity (APS), a legal and financial guarantee organisation for travel agencies; Tour operator study group (CETO); French
Union of Professions and Industries in the Hotel Business (UMIH) representing a majority of cafés, hotels and restaurants; National Open-Air Tourist Industry Federation (FNHP), for campsites; French Hiking Federation (FFRP); National Union of Tourism Associations (UNAT), a pool of social tourism associations; French association of ski areas (formerly SNTF), for ropeway operators. Through the action of a variety of bodies and with the collaboration of professionals and their representatives, the Regions, Departments and communes also contribute to implementing tourism development actions both nationally and at territorial level. Overall, their budget exceeds the State budget.
Germany In Germany, tourism policy is an integral component of economic policy at both federal and “Land” level. All the ministries of economics have specific tourism divisions. Within the federal government, the Federal Ministry of economics and technology has the overall competence and coordination for the national tourism policy. Because of the cross-sectional character of tourism policy, many detail questions also touch the competences of other ministries, e.g. finance, education and research, labour and social affairs, transport, environment, culture and foreign affairs. Relevant examples include the entry rules for foreign visitors and action to ensure the security of air traffic (Federal Ministry of the Interior), transport routes and the state-owned rail operator DB (Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development), and major protected areas and species protection (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety). The Committee on Tourism of the German Bundestag plays an important role in tourism. As a permanent member of the committee the tourism commissioner of the federal government brings in the interests of the German government into the policy debates. As a result of Germany’s federal constitutional structure, there are many fields of activity where it is incumbent on federal institutions to create a legislative framework, while the concrete implementing acts and associated secondary legislation are adopted by the Länder. The German National Tourist Board (DZT) is responsible for promoting Germany as a holiday and travel destination abroad on behalf of the regions. The DZT’s funding has increased continuously during the last few years to reach approximately € 26.3 milion in the 2009 financial year. In addition to this, the tourism actors
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