“Groups mean business” - 06/07/2010

WEB EXCLUSIVE!
- only available at groupleisure.com

Introducing the ETOA’s Charter for Successful Tourism, we quiz the ETOA’s head of tour operator relations, Nick Greenfield, on its ongoing strategy and potential benefits to groups.

The month of May welcomed the launch of the European Tour Operator Association’s (ETOA) Charter for Successful Tourism, in conjunction with European Cities marketing (ECM) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU).

Setting out a code of best practice for welcoming and managing tourist groups, and covering key points such as coach access, capacity planning, and changes to regulations and prices, the charter was drawn up to address a number of issues that have been the cause of logistic challenges in cities. It is hoped the charter will also encourage greater collaboration between government and the travel industry in marketing and planning.

In this exclusive interview, Group Leisure speaks to the ETOA’s head of tour operator relations, Nick Greenfield (pictured), to find out more about the new Charter for Successful Tourism, and its potential benefit to groups and coach parties travelling to European city destinations.

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Hi Nick, so why was it so important to establish this charter in the first place?
We wanted to produce a document that would offer guidance, create discussion and highlight both the challenges and opportunities for group tourism in cities across Europe. It’s based on consultation with operators, tourist boards, coach companies and many other stakeholders in group tourism.

How important is the groups industry in sustaining European tourism?
If ETOA has a leitmotif, it is that Europe cannot take for granted its place as the pre-eminent tourist destination in the world. If you look at emerging origin markets such as China, India and Brazil, how Europe works with and welcomes groups from those countries will affect the future of tourism from those countries and how they view Europe as a destination. At the same time mature markets such as the US and Japan remain important. Group tourism comes in many shapes and sizes; special interest groups, performing arts groups, educational tours and social trips all bring tourism revenue into local economies, both from other European countries and further afield. In short, group tourism in all its guises remains a cornerstone of European tourism.

Why do you think it has taken so long to recognise this, and for such a charter to be drawn up?
Past documents have focused on different aspects of group tourism such as coach access or booking practices. We decided to use our central position and bring all these strands together into one charter.