The Alliance for Tourism Diversity (ATV) appeals to policymakers

Hamburg/Unterhaching, April 5, 2022 (w&p) – Urgent current issues such as crisis management, sustainability, digitalization, and, not least, the glaring shortage of skilled workers cannot be put off: The Action Alliance for Tourism Diversity (ATV), which brings together 28 industry associations, is therefore urgently calling on policymakers to introduce the dialogue platform for the tourism industry announced in the coalition agreement. In 2019, approximately nine percent of the total workforce was employed in tourism*, which once again underscores the platform’s relevance and significance for society as a whole. All relevant stakeholders must therefore be brought to the table as soon as possible to engage in dialogue on an equal footing and set the course for the future of tourism. 

“Politicians must now demonstrate that the national tourism platform announced in the coalition agreement was more than just lip service,” said ATV spokesperson Michael Buller. “For months, we have tirelessly emphasized the importance and urgency of this dialogue platform at every opportunity in discussions with political parties and politicians—yet the first quarter of 2022 has already passed, and nothing has happened in this regard.” 

In this context, the ATV emphasizes that any lack of funding would not justify a delay: rather, all that is needed to get started are the appropriate facilities and the time to begin—given the urgency of the issues at hand, getting to work immediately is the top priority. Funding can be secured in the next step, but initial results are what matter most. 

The Action Alliance firmly rejects the idea of comprising the dialogue platform exclusively of industry giants. Rather, it is essential to represent the full spectrum of the tourism industry and to include niche providers, who also make a crucial contribution to the tourism value chain. Only in this way can policymakers gain an understanding of all the concerns and needs of the various tourism stakeholders and address them. The dialogue platform must take the diversity of the industry into account. 

“We also strongly advocate for the establishment of relevant subcommittees within the dialogue platform, composed of experts in the respective current and future challenges,” adds Michael Buller. Digitalization, sustainability, the shortage of skilled workers, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and, not least, global economic crises resulting from acts of war within Europe require specific areas of focus and approaches to discussion. For this reason, sub-expert panels—which must be staffed by specialists—are of crucial importance to the success of the tourism platform. 

“In our view, there is an urgent and ongoing need for dialogue with policymakers in order to lead the tourism industry into the future,” emphasizes ATV spokesperson Petra Thomas. “To achieve this, the various committees and political bodies involved in tourism must work together transparently and effectively—from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to the specialized departments of the federal ministries for the environment, development cooperation, and transportation, all the way to the Tourism Advisory Board and the planned national platform for tourism.” 

*Source: https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-887826?fbclid=IwAR38jQE2iC0VgA5TVO565cmxUP_gpCGxyqxCbzKODpP3AwvEvaR2r1w_KVc

The press release is available for download here in PDF format.