underlines the need to underpin the EU's strategy goals with adequate funding opportunities provided within the new financial framework and to fully respect the subsidiarity principle;
stresses the need for European coastal and maritime regions to develop local strategies aimed at promoting distinctive local features, thus increasing their visibility as tourist destinations based on their uniqueness;
stresses that islands, outermost regions and other remote locations are highly dependent on air transport, ferry and boat connections and calls upon the Commission to properly consider their specific features;
maintains that coastal and maritime tourism must benefit local coastal communities and thus argues for specific measures promoting local hiring, the sourcing of local products and developing local food systems; considers that such a commitment to act locally will improve the efficiency of coastal and maritime tourism offers, reinforce local employment and generate jobs in sustainable farming, fishing and services, thus also helping to achieve the EU's goals concerning social and territorial cohesion and rural development;
calls upon the Commission to facilitate labour mobility in the tourism sector through Erasmus Plus and to set up an exchange and training programme for coastal and maritime regions, particularly for young people and in the low season, to enhance vocational training opportunities, sharing of best practice examples and to foster entrepreneurship among this workforce.
The final opinion was received with much interest by both DG MARE and DG ENTR who followed its elaboration closely. The Rapporteur was subsequently invited to a range of high level events organised by the two Directorates. He was also asked to join the steering committee of the Atlantic Action Forum alongside the DG MARE director and the Chair of PECH committee.
The Opinion was broadly discussed in the Portuguese and Azorean media.
Finally, the Opinion was also commented within the CPRM as the Rapporteur became its new Chair shortly after the adoption.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS:
- underlines the need to underpin the EU's strategy goals with adequate funding opportunities provided within the new financial framework and to fully respect the subsidiarity principle;
- stresses the need for European coastal and maritime regions to develop local strategies aimed at promoting distinctive local features, thus increasing their visibility as tourist destinations based on their uniqueness;
- stresses that islands, outermost regions and other remote locations are highly dependent on air transport, ferry and boat connections and calls upon the Commission to properly consider their specific features;
- maintains that coastal and maritime tourism must benefit local coastal communities and thus argues for specific measures promoting local hiring, the sourcing of local products and developing local food systems; considers that such a commitment to act locally will improve the efficiency of coastal and maritime tourism offers, reinforce local employment and generate jobs in sustainable farming, fishing and services, thus also helping to achieve the EU's goals concerning social and territorial cohesion and rural development;
- calls upon the Commission to facilitate labour mobility in the tourism sector through Erasmus Plus and to set up an exchange and training programme for coastal and maritime regions, particularly for young people and in the low season, to enhance vocational training opportunities, sharing of best practice examples and to foster entrepreneurship among this workforce.