Tourism – a Chance for the Regions of Europe - Institut IRE
Tourism – a Chance for the Regions of Europe - Institut IRE
Tourism – a Chance for the Regions of Europe - Institut IRE
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Danijel Ivanagić, BA IT, Member <strong>of</strong><br />
County Council in charge <strong>of</strong> EU-Intergration<br />
and Regional Cooperation,<br />
Varaždin, Maja Lehman, Development<br />
Agency <strong>of</strong> Varaždin County, Elizabeta<br />
Dolenec, Director <strong>of</strong> Varaždin County<br />
Tourist Board, and Alen Leverić, Head<br />
<strong>of</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> in Varaždin<br />
County, Development<br />
Franco Ianniello, Head <strong>of</strong> Unit, <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
Commission, DG Enterprise and<br />
Industry, Dr. Hans Harald Jahn, Head<br />
<strong>of</strong> Unit <strong>for</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong>, <strong>Europe</strong>an Investment<br />
Bank (EIB), and Dr. Ulrich Zacherl,<br />
Director, Investkredit Bank AG<br />
At <strong>the</strong> most important tourism conference<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> regions, this year’s <strong>IRE</strong><br />
Conference “<strong>Tourism</strong> and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Regions</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Europe</strong> - latest Developments” 150<br />
participants from 27 countries and<br />
more than 40 <strong>Europe</strong>an <strong>Regions</strong> were<br />
present at <strong>the</strong> welcoming speech <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Institut</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Regions</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>, <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>mer Governor<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> State <strong>of</strong> Salzburg. 18 renowned<br />
representatives from <strong>the</strong> fields <strong>of</strong> politics,<br />
EU, tourism industry, tourism investors,<br />
law etc. presented this topic.<br />
Schausberger said, that he was pleased,<br />
that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>an Commission<br />
had realised how important <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
<strong>Regions</strong> are <strong>for</strong> tourism and that in<br />
his opinion tourism plays a major role<br />
in realising <strong>the</strong> Lisbon Strategy. He<br />
was, however, also clearly criticising<br />
<strong>the</strong> new EU tourism strategy, saying<br />
that it left disappointingly small space<br />
<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> cities and <strong>the</strong> regions, when<br />
one takes in consideration <strong>the</strong> huge<br />
ef<strong>for</strong>t <strong>the</strong>y made to improve <strong>the</strong> situation.<br />
He also pointed out that regional<br />
political activities in <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong><br />
tourism and cities were very important<br />
<strong>for</strong> small and medium-sized businesses<br />
that are linked to <strong>the</strong> tourism industry.<br />
The Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Section <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Federal Ministry <strong>of</strong> Economy and<br />
Labour, Mrs. Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl<br />
highlighted <strong>the</strong> fact that in Austria<br />
tourism is a typical interdisciplinary<br />
field in which competences are split<br />
and where a vast number <strong>of</strong> rules and<br />
provincial and federal laws and currently<br />
more and more <strong>Europe</strong>an legal<br />
provisions exist. She fur<strong>the</strong>rmore<br />
states that it is <strong>the</strong> provinces which<br />
are competent <strong>of</strong> issuing rules that<br />
concern tourism and leisure-time activities,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e <strong>the</strong> provinces clearly<br />
play an important role in tourism<br />
and <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e it is also necessary to<br />
establish cooperations and networks.<br />
“The role that <strong>the</strong> regions play in this<br />
context is a very strong one - <strong>the</strong>y<br />
should actively participate!” says Mrs.<br />
Udolf-Strobl.<br />
Franci Rokavec, state secretary <strong>for</strong><br />
local autonomous administration and<br />
regional policy, emphasised <strong>the</strong> large<br />
potential <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> economic branch <strong>of</strong><br />
tourism in Slovenia. During <strong>the</strong> last<br />
few years a great deal was invested<br />
in quantity. Now it is necessary to<br />
improve quality. The vision <strong>of</strong> a “modern<br />
Slovenian tourism” was set up in<br />
a development plan. Part <strong>of</strong> this plan<br />
was <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> construction<br />
<strong>of</strong> 4 to 5 star hotels, as well as <strong>the</strong><br />
improvement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> pensions<br />
and private boarding houses and<br />
<strong>the</strong> prolongation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> low season.<br />
The total sum <strong>of</strong> investments which<br />
currently amounts to EUR 1.6 billion<br />
is planned to be raised significantly till<br />
<strong>the</strong> year 2010. “Being a small country<br />
we must find a specific way to be<br />
different from <strong>the</strong> big countries where<br />
tourism is a major income factor.<br />
The keyword <strong>the</strong>re<strong>for</strong>e is “au<strong>the</strong>nticity!”<br />
Slovenia should take advantage<br />
<strong>of</strong> being a small country with a vast<br />
and varied <strong>of</strong>fer concerning its culture,<br />
nature and landscape.<br />
The Polish State Secretary Tomasz<br />
Wilczak presented <strong>the</strong> current tourism<br />
situation in Poland. There are 23 national<br />
parks and preserves, as well as<br />
PhD. Dipl Ing. Pavol Weiss, Director <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Institut</strong>e <strong>for</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong>, Bratislava, Albena<br />
Shishkova, First secretary - Acting<br />
Head <strong>of</strong> Community Policies Unit <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
Integration Directorate, Bulgarian<br />
Ministry <strong>for</strong> Foreign Affairs, Ing. Gabriel<br />
Kuliffay, Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>Tourism</strong> Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ministry <strong>of</strong> Economy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Slovak Republic, and Dipl. Ing. Ladislav<br />
Monćek, Director <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Travel Agency<br />
Montravel Tatraclub, Banska Bysrica<br />
Leo Bauernberger, Director <strong>of</strong> Salzburger Land <strong>Tourism</strong>us GmbH, Mag. Roman<br />
Himmler, MBA Vienna Airport AG, Head <strong>of</strong> Shareholdings, Dr. Andreas Hopf , Director,<br />
Central Danube Region Marketing & Development GmbH, Univ. Doz. Dr. Franz<br />
Schausberger, Mag. Dr. Stefan Eder, Dr. Helmut Falschlehner, Business Consultant<br />
6 irenews 6 / nov06