Presentation of the Polish Presidency’s achievements in the field of tourism
Minister Katarzyna Sobierajska spoke about the Presidency’s activities towards enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of European tourism, in accordance with the adopted priority “Competitiveness of the European Tourism Economy.” The speech highlighted the effects of the European Tourism Forum held on 5-7 October 2011 in Kraków. The Forum emphasised, e.g., the need to establish the European Virtual Tourism Observatory, to apply modern information and communication technologies in creating innovative tourism products, and to exchange experience and good practices in the field of tourism. During the Forum, a joint declaration of cooperation between the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the European Commission on cooperation in the promotion of Destination Europe was signed. A presentation of good practices for sustainable tourism development was also given.
According to the assessment of Minister Sobierajska, the Informal Meeting of Tourism Ministers which took place on 6 October 2011 in Kraków stressed the need to respect the principle of subsidiarity in conducting Europe-promoting activities on the EU level and to implement more friendly visa regulations applicable to third-country nationals, particularly those from emerging markets with a huge potential for economic and tourist exchanges. In this respect, a significant step was the signature, on 14 December 2011, of a bilateral agreement between Poland and Russia, which will allow multiple crossings of the Polish-Russian border by the inhabitants of border zones of both countries, within the so-called local border traffic.
During the workshop on the European Cycle Route Network, organised by the Polish Presidency on 7 December 2011 in Brussels, the need to develop the network was emphasised and the rationale for the proposed investments and projects in this field was presented. Poland supported the MP’s efforts towards including Eurovelo within the TEN-T network. Activities taken before and after the workshop resulted in the adoption, on the Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system, in which the European Parliament calls including the European Cycle Route Network “Eurovelo” within the TEN-T network.
The Members of the Parliament very positively assessed the Polish Presidency’s works towards the development of tourism, and congratulated the Presidency on its truly rich programme and accomplishments.