Overview
Tourism is a growing activity in the economic landscape of the European Union. Its share in surface transport is estimated to be 20% to 30%, and in international airports 60% to 90%. Moreover, tourism provides employment for more than 9 million European citizens. However, it is creating infrastructure-related problems, particularly in cities that are popular destinations.
There is a lack of data on tourism flows, and insufficient knowledge of visitor management practices. Moreover, there are poor linkages between the definitions/data used for tourism and those for transport, including inconsistencies between different European countries. In order to co-ordinate policies, some common base of information is needed.
The goal of ARTIST was to demonstrate how tourism statistics can be related to transport data, as well as providing lessons for urban and transport planners in managing tourism flows. Specific objectives were to:
- analyse the share and dynamics of tourism in total mobility;
- review existing visitor management practices, especially in European cities with large tourism flows;
- demonstrate the need for a Community transport initiative on this issue.
Funding
Results
Through an assessment of existing data and policies, the ARTIST project developed two sets of proposals, concerning:
- the organisation of a research programme to underpin efficient and evaluated action in the tourism and transport sector, both at the European level and at the urban level;
- research themes, which can fill the major gaps in the know-how of those who are in charge of managing tourism/transport policies and those who organise and run the tourism/transport facilities.
Concerning the first set of proposals, the project high-lighted the lack of a global theory explaining the behaviour of travellers. Methods were proposed to investigate the different aspects of this behaviour, including data acquisition, analysis of travel patterns and analysis of impacts. Tools and models were investigated for monitoring and evaluating policies, strategies, measures and services, in order to steer the decision making process.
For the second set of proposals, the ARTIST project selected 21 research themes. These cover a full range of concerns, ranging from the development of a set of adequate definitions, through survey and forecasting methods, to the design of information systems and safety policies. For each of the research themes, ARTIST described the problem, the objectives, the steps to be performed, the expected results and their possible use.
Policy implications
Consistent management of tourism statistics and related research activities across Europe will impact a wide range of policy areas: employment, regional development, education, environment, consumer protection, health, safety, culture, new technology, transport, finance and taxation, to name but a few.
At a local level, such data management will allow a better use of existing programmes of policy support, particularly the EC Structural Funds that subsidise tourism activities under the control of local authorities in Member States.