The Impact of EU Legislation Affecting Tourism and the Environment within the European Union - Case Study Example

Topic: Evaluate the impact of EU legislation affecting tourism and the environment within the European Union. Use examples to illustrate your answer. European tourism policy gets a mention in its constitution’s articles I-17 and III-281. It is a tourism policy in a limited sense as fields like environment and transport affect its formulation. But from global point of view, EU holds vast influence on tourism policies of member countries, getting policy inputs from non-tourism fields like transport, environment and culture. The present treaties among EU nations are competent enough to provide a complete picture of European tourism policy. European Union’s transport policies, migration policies and health policies have a role in enhancing tourism in European countries. It is interesting to note that tourism contributes more than 4% in EU GDP. In this context, the importance of European institutions’ role in achieving goals set in Lisbon can’t be left at the mercy of its member states. Paolo Costa, (2006). Therefore, it is of utmost importance for the European Union to work on Lisbon strategy to make the regional and local tourism competitive -- to face the challenges of increasing socio-economic differences after expansion, globalisation, technological advancement and increased immigration. Many recent developments point out towards the amendments made by the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Committee, resulting in ‘The Agreement No. 12/2006’, specifically in Article 98, made on 27th January 2006. It has decided to amend the text of Chapter 1 of Annex XX on environment. In Article 2, the Council Directive 90/313/EEC shall be erased from the Agreement after coming into force EEA Joint Committee Decision No 123/2003. According to EEA Joint Committee President R Wright, the texts of Decisions of Article 3, Article 4, and Article 5 will be published in the Official Journal of European Union, as decided at Brussels (OJ 92/35). According to Council Decision of 27 June 2006 on the Protocol on Tourism to the Alpine Convention (2006/516/EC), the Council of the European Union, showing regard to the Treaty, proposal of the Commission and Opinion of the European Parliament, particularly on Article 175(1) along with first sentence of first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and first subparagraph of Article 300(3), agrees that tourism, in most parts of the Alps is contingent on environmental impacts. As Alps mountain region is ecologically a sensitive area, equilibrium among the needs of the people, their economic interests and environmental issues are must for the incessant progress of the area. Tourism has become a global phenomenon although it is a local product – catered by regional interests. A list of Community Directives, Regulations of the European Parliament and of the Council resolution of 21 May 2002 provide participation on their own by organisations on the future of the European tourism. All the Protocols along with Alpine Convention and its Protocol on tourism should offer a platform for all stakeholders to work together for the sustainability of the whole European tourist region. The impact of Tourism on environment is a major issue, which demands follow-up on recommendations on environment side of research, training, management instruments and strategies, planning procedures associated to quality development of tourism. Public should be made aware of the purposes, methods and the application of the three Protocols, as approved by the European Community (OJ 201/33, Luxembourg, 27 June 2006). The European Union is market leader in tourism sector, as is evident from the fact that out of ten major tourist attractions, five belonged to EU in the year 2000. EU registered a record tourist rush of 43% and receipts reached 40% in non-domestic international tourism in 1999. The European Commission is creating consciousness among the people of member countries about the benefits of tourism by introducing the European Statistical System on tourism. Another important feature of EU tourism is the single currency Euro. As a good percentage of tourism business is generated among member countries, it saves tourists’ money on commission in exchanging currency. Statistics reveal the spending of EU tourists to the extent of EURO 115 billion in the year 2000 (excluding domestic tourism spending). In the same way, tourists from outside Europe get the benefit of minimized costs, as they don’t have to pay on exchanging different currencies; they can visit the whole of Europe in a single currency – EURO. To stress upon the important role of tourism and present a comprehensive policy approach towards tourism, the Council of Ministers announced the year 1990 “The European Year of Tourism” (Council Decision 89/46/EEC of 21 December 1988, OJ No L 17, 21.1.1989, p. 53) beside 1992 three year Action Plan to Assist Tourism (Council Decision 92/421/EEC of 31 July 1992). European Union’s positive policies can be effective in encouraging tourism to a certain extent; a lot more depends on the public and private sector initiatives taken at concerned governments and regional levels. Market ideology, based on a global perspective for the development of tourism, can work wonders, as happened in the United Kingdom when the government lifted limitations to generate positive attitude among businesses and individuals. Easy handling of taxation VATS, Social Security, employment, health and safety, company law, licensing, and extension of opening hours – all this had a very positive impact on tourism industry (UK, Department of Employment and Central Office of Information, Tourism in the UK 1992:5). Tourism plays a positive role in minimizing the desolation and remoteness of specific areas by promoting their development. It helps in bringing people closer. The European Community has taken specific initiatives to provide structural help in raising the infrastructure, essential for removing the isolation of a particular area from the other regions. The Community Initiative Interreg III encourages the development of such projects across border. Take for example the expansion of the Palma de Majorca air terminal in the Balearic Islands in Spain and business initiatives in music and latest technologies sector in Hultsfred in Sweden. Similarly, the Union has been taking Structural action to back up environment issues as per the Treaty of Amsterdam. According to Article 6 of the Treaty, environment protection needs must be assimilated in outlining, formulating and implementing of Community policies. The quality of life and environment of a region are conducive and complimentary to tourism. Some regions require higher environmental protection costs than others. Structural Funds for environment could be as different as making of renewable energy in Germany and waste management in Spain. The European Union has specifically reserved the Cohesion Fund for transport and environment projects in the poorest States of the Union. To maintain the stipulated standards in environment, ISPA (Instruments for Structural Policies for Pre-accession) distributes half of its fund to applicant member nations in Central and Eastern Europe. The EU policies target not only the tourism sector but environment issues are very much a part of its policies, as is evident from the Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 12/2006 amending Annex XX (Environment) to the EEA Agreement on 27 January 2006. The role of physical environment for the tourism industry, according to Mathieson and Wall (1982): ‘In the absence of an attractive environment, there would be little tourism. Ranging from the basic attractions of sun, sea and sand to the undoubted appeal of historic sites and structures, the environment is the foundation of the tourist industry. In fact, the terms ‘tourism’ and ‘environment’ are complimentary to each other. No tourism can progress and survive without understanding environment – its ecological factors, which can minimise the loss done to natural environment by tourist activities. Actually, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to help in developing sustainable forms of tourism. The political interference can have negative impact, as happened in the planning for the UK’s high-speed rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel during the 1980s and 1990s. In this particular case, GIS was used to check the optimum route for a tourist-transport infrastructure project but political favouritism changed the geographical route, impacting its distribution (Goodenough and Page 1994). Another important aspect of tourism is rural tourism that affects environment negatively. Take the case study, for example, of Ireland, where rural tourism is peripheral to traditionally dense activities of tourists. The term – peripherality applies in the context of economic loss by building a ‘problem region’ in the European Community by promoting urban regions at the cost of its periphery. The government introduced Operational Programme for Tourism with the help of European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund for investment in infrastructure, marketing and training to the tune of I£147 million as EC aid. The aid package continued with the 1994-1999 programme as well. It changed the whole scenario that was in 1984, bringing a wonderful change in 1988 when the government spent 80% of the funds in the progress of the peripheral regions (Hall & Page, 198). Tourism affects environment both ways – negatively and positively. The positive effects of tourism are not properly defined in literature but it is generally assumed that development of tourism affects the environment negatively although, whether the impact is negative or positive depends on the value judgements. Negative impacts can be divided into three titles: resource usage, behavioural considerations, and pollution (Andrew Holden 2000, Page 69). Resource usage for the promotion of tourism goes to the limit of endangering the environment. Governments, in their desire to earn revenue and foreign exchange, exploit natural resources, causing loss to local inhabitants and to the future of tourism. Unlimited usage of marine waters for diving, water-sports and coastal tourism has affected marine life. Likewise, Skiing in Northern Europe has encouraged tourism to the extent of cutting forests for constructing tourist destinations in far-off areas. The EU environment policy is based on the ethics of the rights of future generations on a healthy environment by applying a long-term approach besides encouraging development activities in tourism. It strives to work for a good quality life of its citizens from health and environment point of view. The EU policy encourages environmental efficiency and balanced use as well as efficient management of available environmental resources. The expenditure on environment safety measures and investment in the EU-15 had been on the decline during the period 1999-2002 with the exception of Spain. Spain increased its environment expenditure between 1997-2002 by more than 250 percent. Similarly, Estonia has been spending proportionately on environmental protection since 1997. Performance of Hungary for the same period had been negative by a decrease of 50 percent on environment protection expenditure. It is important to note that only Italy and Slovenia had spent huge amounts on environment protection in comparison to their current expenditure in the year 2002 (EU Statistics 9/8/2005). The European Commission has stressed on the need to increase cooperation and consistency of tourism policies among all stake holders – European Commission, Member States, regional and local authorities, industry, associations and tourist destinations. According to the “Agenda 21” guidelines, it stresses on sustainable progress of tourism with a specific focus on environment and cultural resources. The Council’s resolution, passed on 21 May 2002, is meant to check the impact of EU legislation on the tourism sector and review of presenting Europe as a tourist destination, expecting the backing of the European Community and the member states. The Commission, on its own initiative, has financed the creation of the European tourist destination portal, inaugurated in March 2006. It is also starting a “destinations of Excellence” European annual awards project with its first year theme of “Best emerging rural destinations”. MEPs also passed a resolution on 5 October 2006 for a “thematic strategy on the urban environment” aimed at towns and cities above 100,0000 people on the basis of a report by Hungarian Socialist Gyula Hegyi. The need of the hour, in the words of Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation, is “to help minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage while maximising the benefits for residents of tourism destinations”. In this regard, the EU initiatives and far-sightedness can play a constructive part in working together with member states and private sector to provide a future of sustainable tourism. Private and public sectors should work hand-in-hand. The WTTC’s blueprint for new tourism also favours long-term commitments for offering “commercially successful products” not only for tourists, but also for visiting communities along with their related natural, social and cultural environments. Works cited list Electronic Books: Elliot, James 1997, Tourism: Politics and Public Sector Management, Routledge, London, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://www.myilibrary.com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/Search/sd.asp?ID=32104&Searchtext=Elliot+J+Tourism+Politics+and+Public+Sector+Management> Hall, C M; page S J 1999, The Geography of Tourism and Recreation Environment, Place and Space, Routledge, London & New York, viewed 1 November 2006, Chapter in an electronic book Holden, Andrew 2000, Tourism’s relation with the environment, Routledge Introductions to Environment Series: Environment and Tourism, London and New York, viewed 1 November 2006, Websites: Costa, Paolo (Chair European parliament’s transport and tourism committee) 2006, EU tourism policy: The bigger picture, released, 31 July, the Parliament .com, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/LegislationNews/200607/7bb53b49-06cf-40ea-852b-9f601a0687ce.htm> Council Decision 25 July 2006, ‘Official Journal of the European Union’, L 201, no. 31, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_201/l_20120060725en00310033.pdf> Decision of the EEA Joint Committee 27 January 2006, “Official Journal of the European Union’, L 92, no. 35, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_092/l_09220060330en00350041.pdf> European Commission: Enterprise and Industry, Tourism: More about the tourism sector in the European Union, Facts and Figures about European Tourism, Updated 21 September 2005, viewed 1 November 2006, European Information Society, Regional Policy – Inforegio: Regional Policy and the Lisbon Strategy, Last updated, 4 November 2006, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/themes/lisbon/lisbon_en.htm> European Information Society, Regional Policy – Inforegio, Structural Actions in support of tourism and culture, Last updated, 4 November 2006, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/themes/cultur_en.htm> EU Statistics UK: Environmental protection expenditure by industry in the European Union, 9 August 2005, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://www.eustatistics.gov.uk/themes/environment/statsinfocus/index.asp> European Union: Delegation of the European Commission to the USA, Transportation/Energy/Environment Policy, Washington, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/TEE/TEEhome.htm> Queiro, Luis (Vice chair: parliaments transport and tourism committee) 31 July 2006, EU tourism policy: The right direction, viewed 1 November 2006, TourismConcern, Info. for Tourists, The Global Story: The Environmental Damage, London, viewed 1 November 2006, < http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/info-for-tourists/environmental-damage.htm> The Global Travel & Tourism Summit, Lisbon, 10-12 May, WTTC’s Blueprint For New Tourism Calls On Government and Industry to Make Significant Long Term Commitments, 7October 2003, viewed 1 November 2006, The Parliament. 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