92002E0136

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0136/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2002)

Subject: Campaign to publicise rural tourism in Andalusia

The rural tourism sector in Andalusia has expanded appreciably in recent years in terms of the number of accommodation units and beds available.

According to data from the Spanish national statistical office, however, nine out of every ten tourists using the rural tourism network in Andalusia are Spanish, with very few foreign visitors.

As tourist development is one of the most important instruments for boosting development of the countryside, does the Commission think that EAGGF resources could be used for publicity campaigns on rural tourism in Andalusia, so as to attract tourists from other EU countries and increase the rate of occupancy of this type of accommodation, which is little known in the Community tourism sector as a whole, or what proposals could it put forward for securing Community funds to finance an information campaign of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 2002)

The Commission was unaware of the facts brought to its attention by the Honourable Member.

Resolution of this type of difficulty does not fall within the Community's sphere of responsibility but is a matter for national and/or regional authorities, in this case the Autonomous Community of Andalusia.

Through the Structural Funds the Commission contributes to various regional development programmes in Spain. For Andalusia a number of agricultural and rural development programmes receive Community financing.

Under the action and information plan of the Operational Programme for Andalusia for the period 2000-2006 certain measures have been adopted that may help relieve the Honourable Member's concern. Rural development policy aims at creating a coherent and sustainable framework that will guarantee the future of rural areas by promoting diversification of agricultural activities and inter alia expansion of rural tourism.

These programmes are managed at Member State level and hence by national and/or regional authorities and not by the Commission.