CALL FOR ACTION FOR HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY LEADERS

The impact of politics upon the hospitality and tourism sector is dramatic. Almost unlimited are the ways in which governments influence the de­livery of hospitality and tourism products, whether through regulation of commerce, business and real estate development initiatives, cultural and historic preservation strategies, and taxation policies. Gov­ernments may also be involved in spending pub­lic funds on the promotion of attractions that are privately owned and operated. Legislators establish accommodation taxes to fund these marketing ini­tiatives, and bureaucrats pick winners and losers by selecting the specific tourism assets and destina­tions they will promote. Business success is directly affected by political decisions that influence the environments – eco­nomic, ecological, and social – under which hos­pitality and tourism functions.

Most discussions of tourism policy making have tended to concentrate on what governments should do rather than examining the manner in which de­cisions have actually been made. The majority of political issues that directly influence the industry emanate at the Member State level. Within Member States’ legislatures, there are two key means for having the industry’s interests represented. The first is through the lobbying of legislators. Industry representatives explain to legislators and their staffs the importance of hospitality and tourism, and en­sure they understand the impact of myriad bills they will consider throughout the course of any legisla­tive session. The second, more direct, means of affecting leg­islation is to elect officials from the hospitality and tourism industry. These insiders can educate and influence their legislative peers regarding the im­portance and vulnerabilities of the sector, introduce and champion legislation beneficial to hospitality and tourism, and alter or block legislation that may pose a threat to the industry.

A Call for Action

An increasing number of academics through­out the world has been calling for tourism industry representatives to become more directly invested in the political system. Tourism leaders should get involved in the process and make sure the government knows their concerns and understands their interests. Tourism industry practitioners are strongly en­couraged to make sure their voices are heard loudly during the course of these arguments.

In order to improve the image and attitudes of legislators toward tourism, it should be pointed out that  political power does not solely reside with those who have the appropriate title, but usually results from the power-playing and positioning of all parties with a vested interest. It involves the ac­tions, values, and ideologies of individuals, inter­est groups, public, and private organizations as ac­tors in the ‘game’ of politics.” Therefore, hospitality and tourism industry members should be encouraged to provide “political steering” that benefits the industry.

Regardless of partisan affiliation or the merits of specific pieces of legislation, it is time for hospitality and tourism leaders to become more personally in­volved in the process. The industry should have more seats at the table and a louder collective voice.

Key Issues

• Diversification of the tourism offer
• Protection of the cultural heritage
• Protection of the natural heritage
• ICT and Innovation
• Connectivity and Transport
• Employment in Tourism
• Improving Education and Skills in Tourism
• Combatting Seasonability
• Demographic Changes
• Improving Accessibility of Tourism
• Improving Socio-Economic Data in Tourism
• Economic Crisis and Recovery
• Developing Responsible Tourism Practices
• Competition Against other Destinations
• Administrative, Regulatory Burden, Bureaucracy (task force, led by senior industry figures to identify sector-specific rules, regulations, inspections and forms which are holding the industry back. Cutting, modifying, or abolishing as much of this red tape as possible).