The tourism sector is a key driver of economic growth and employment and has a fundamental role in matching the Lisbon Strategy objectives: making the EU more competitive and dynamic economy. The recent communication 'A renewed European Union Tourism Policy: Towards a stronger partnership for European Tourism' introduces the strategy to be pursued for better exploit growth and employment potentials of the tourism sector in a sustainable way. It also refers to how the stakeholders can be involved in EC actions.

CONCERTOUR aimed to create synergies between transport, research and tourism sectors in Europe. Its overall objective was to propose new guiding concepts for tourists based on the successive stages of 'the whole travel itinerary' and to support EU policies in improving the competitiveness of its tourism sector. In parallel it will take into account emerging needs and tourism demands by acting on the main aspects which affect the tourism market (e.g. co-modality, information, ticketing) and by identifying policy-driven solutions to remove barriers to mobility and tourism.

In CONCERTOUR tourism market and transport supply were considered as an integrated environment, starting from the assumption that the local community is the key to a successful tourism destination as they are the guardians of the local resources and provide the service for paying guests. The project set out to identify policy driven solutions to remove barriers, creating the conditions for value added transport services provision (e.g. institutions/instruments facilitating co-ordination between governmental departments in the planning phase, tourism travel plans, pricing policies and technical standardisation).

The project focused on transport as lever/opportunity and not as barrier to sustainable development and competitiveness, taking in consideration relevant key factors such as: improvement of socio-economic benefits, sites attractiveness, reduction of adverse environmental/social impacts, guarantee fair/equal access to tourism for all.