In the case of tourism, there is clear added value in taking initiative at the Union-level especially in the following areas: the consolidation of the knowledge base by the means of pan-European surveys and studies to better understand the demand and the supply side, without which data comparability and consistency across the Union would not be achieved[3]; the development of joint transnational promotion strategies of Europe as home to high quality and sustainable tourist destinations[4]; the identification of best practices that can benefit specific sectors, such as maritime and coastal tourism; as well as the extension of the touri ...[+++]sm season, which could be done better with exchanges between different Member States than by each country individually.

EU countries are required to collect, draw up, process and transmit harmonised statistics on supply and demand in tourism.

In order to achieve this objective, it is worthwhile developing innovation in tourism, reinforcing the quality of supply in all its dimensions, improving professional skills in the sector, attempting to overcome the seasonal nature of demand, diversifying the supply of tourist services and helping to improve statistics and analyses relating to tourism.

tourism, including promotion of natural assets as potential for the development of sustainable tourism; protection and enhancement of natural heritage in support of socio-economic development; aid to improve the supply of tourism services through new higher added-value services and to encourage new, more sustainable patterns of tourism.

tourism, including promotion of natural assets as potential for the development of sustainable tourism; protection and enhancement of natural heritage in support of socio-economic development; aid to improve the supply of tourism services through new higher added-value services and to encourage new, more sustainable patterns of tourism;

The programme centres around two geographically-defined priorities. Kempen: measures to develop and redevelop industrial sites, to increase cooperation between local SMEs, to promote ITC and innovation - particularly through exchange of know-how between firms and networking, to develop training and research infrastructures, and to promote a better-integrated tourism product.