This guide has been prepared for various reasons, starting with the strategic importance of tourism for the EU. As the third largest EU economic sector, tourism has indeed a broad impact on economic growth, employment and social development. Its importance is acknowledged by the Treaty on the functioning of the EU, which requires the Union to support, complement and coordinate Member States' action in this field. A specific guide was also necessary because of the diversity of the tourism sector's needs and the range of EU thematic programmes that can consequently support it. Made of many different players with different needs, the sector got support from various programmes over time. Thanks to continuous simplification efforts, gathering and digesting information about many programmes is progressively easier, but it remains a challenge for hard-pressed private and public entities promoting tourism destinations or developing tourism services. |
