The motto of a European conference of tourism ministers taking place on Monday and Tuesday in the Vienna Hofburg is “Tourism - Key to Growth and Employment in Europe”. Ministers and government representatives from the EU-25, the accession and candidate countries, EFTA/EEA and the Western Balkans will be attending. They will discuss the growth and employment aspects and prospects for the future of tourism in Europe together with representatives of international and European organisations and the tourist industry. The conference has been prepared in cooperation with the European Commission for the EU Presidency by Austria and Finland, which takes over the EU Presidency from Austria in the second half of 2006.
"Today, tourism is one of the most important, most dynamic and most attractive sectors of the economy and is increasingly being recognised as a driver for growth and jobs", said Martin Bartenstein, the minister responsible for tourism in Austria. In the interests of an innovative, coordinated approach to the sessions, Austria is focusing on the theme "Tourism and culture – partnership for growth and employment" and Finland on "Information and communications technologies - tool for growth and employment in tourism".
The conference will be opened by Federal Minister of Economics and Labour Martin Bartenstein, the current President of the Council responsible for tourism matters, and Erkki Virtanen, Permanent Secretary in the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry, who is representing Minister Mauri Pekkarinen at the conference. It will then divide into two parallel workshops to discuss the priority themes. The results of the two workshops will be compiled and the findings discussed at the subsequent plenary session. The day will be rounded off with a gala reception in the Hofburg.
Following a short presentation of the results of the previous day’s sessions, Peter Sloterdijk, philosopher, writer and rector of the State University of Design, Media and Arts in Karlsruhe will give a keynote speech entitled: "Tractatus philosophicus on the morality of growth". The ministers will draw conclusions from the conference proceedings in a closed session. This debate will be supplemented by a discussion of the European Commission communication: A new EU tourism policy: Towards a new partnership for European tourism and a French initiative: Fight against sex tourism and child abuse.
The delegates will also discuss a number of innovative projects in the field of tourism, culture and of information and communications technology. A plenary with podium discussion is planned for the afternoon.
More information on the conference is available on the Austrian Presidency website (www.eu2006.at).
Contact:
Federal Ministry for Economics and Labour
Office of the Minister: Ingrid Nemec, Tel.: +43 (1) 711 00-5108
Press section: Harald Hoyer, Tel.: +43 (1) 711 00-5130
presseabteilung@bmwa.gv.at
http://www.bmwa.gv.at
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