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The Director CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SMES, REGIONS AND CITIES H.E. Mr. Andres Sutt Minister for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Suur-Ameerika 1, Tallinn, 10122 Estonia 18 August 2022 OECD Tourism Committee: Call for Funding for 2023-24 Dear Minister, For over 70 years, OECD work on tourism policy has highlighted the importance of tourism as an engine for economic, sustainable and inclusive growth. This work has never been more relevant or in demand. As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism economy hard, and has also had a significant impact on the many other sectors that support, and are supported, by tourism. The sector is now navigating the recovery in an uncertain economic and geopolitical context. Tourism needs to do more than recover - with the crisis comes an important opportunity for tourism to shift to stronger, fairer and more sustainable models of tourism development, reduce the environmental footprint of tourism activities, and fully grasp the opportunities from the digital transition. To support these goals, the OECD Tourism Committee’s draft programme of work for 2023-24 (Annex 1 – list of priorities) is intended to drive public and private actions to shape the recovery and the future of the tourism economy, through work on: i) monitoring and evaluating tourism policies for stronger performance and strengthening the evidence and data on tourism economics, including through the flagship publication, OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024; ii) fostering tourism recovery and resilience; and iii) supporting sustainable and inclusive tourism development. The Organisation-wide Programme of Work and Budget, including tourism, should be finalised and adopted by Council by the end of 2022. Since the 77th Session of the Tourism Committee (22 June 2006), the regular Part 1 budget of the Committee has been supplemented by voluntary contributions in order to achieve a meaningful and relevant Programme of Work, from which all countries are able to benefit. These Annual Member and Partner countries' contributions account for around 90% of the core tourism budget. The Tourism Committee’s work is more important than ever, given the significant needs and demands to provide sustainable support to the sector. To keep the momentum and further raise the profile of tourism in national economic and social agendas, we are counting on countries to continue to support the high quality work of the Committee. Therefore, the Secretariat is seeking your financial contribution for a minimum of EUR 20 000 per year in order to meet the ambition and expectations expressed in the Committee’s programme of work (Annex 2 - model for the offer letter attached). I would like to thank you in advance for your support, and look forward to working closely with your country in implementing the priorities of the Tourism Committee and addressing the unprecedented challenges facing the tourism economy. Should you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me or Ms. Céline Kauffmann, Head of Entrepreneurship SME and Tourism Division, ([email protected], tel: +33 (1) 45 24 93 33). Please accept the expression of my highest consideration. Yours sincerely, Lamia Kamal-Chaoui Cc: H.E. Priit Pallum, Ambassador to the OECD, Permanent Representative, Estonia Direct line Tel.: +33 (0) 1 +33(0)1 45 24 16 73 www.oecd.org/cfe 2, rue André -Pascal Fax. : +33 (0) 1 +33(0)1 44 30 62 67 ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC 75775 Paris CEDEX 16 [email protected] CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT France ANNEX 1 – OECD TOURISM COMMITTEE DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK (PWB) FOR 2023-241 1.2.4.1 Monitoring and evaluating tourism policies for stronger performance and database on tourism economics OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024 and database on tourism economics (one publication, one database) The demand within governments and the tourism industry for in-depth analysis and robust information on tourism policies, data and issues is strong. The publication OECD Tourism Trends and Policies has become an international reference and benchmark on how effectively countries are supporting competitiveness, sustainability, innovation and growth in tourism. Its sheds light on policies and practices associated, and provides evidence on important economic and social tourism statistics. It provides comparative knowledge through thematic chapters and country-specific policy and statistical profiles. The report covers around 50 OECD and Partner countries. OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024 will bring a forward-looking perspective to bring new insights on emerging trends and policy reforms. It will include thematic chapters focusing on topical issues of primary importance for policy and/or business decision-makers, and analysing the latest tourism policy developments. The themes for the thematic chapters will be determined at a later stage by the Tourism Committee. Opportunities to include new and timely data, infographics and visual content will be explored. The country policy profiles will present i) the contribution of tourism to the national economy; ii) how tourism is organised and financed; and iii) the key policy initiatives and reforms supporting tourism growth. The country statistical profiles will provide key data on domestic, inbound and outbound tourism, employment, enterprises and internal tourism consumption. Tourism statistics are collected and processed using the OECD Statistical Information System. All tourism data are accessible online, open and free, through OECD.stat. This includes data on domestic, inbound and outbound tourism, enterprises, employment and internal tourism consumption. Building on this statistical environment, the activity will further strengthen tourism data collection and analysis, and improve the timeliness of tourism information. The Working Party on Tourism Statistics will support the statistical agenda of the Tourism Committee. Improving the evidence base for tourism policy making and sustainable tourism development (one report, one good practice study) The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of having timely, granular and comparable data to effectively inform policy and business decisions, and ensure policies are well targeted, have the desired impact and meet strategic objectives. More progress is needed to better measure the economic, environmental and social dimensions of tourism, and develop timely and robust indicators and tools to monitor the effectiveness of tourism policies and the resilience and sustainability of tourism development. Digitalisation has opened up new opportunities to support data-driven policy decisions and meet the policy demand for new, more granular and more timely data in a rapidly changing world. 1.This draft Programme of Work (PWB) has been approved by the Tourism Committee by written procedure on 30 May 2022. All work proposals and priorities across the Organisation are currently further examined. The Organisation-wide PWB for 2023-24 should be finalised and adopted by the Council by the end of 2022. 1 This activity will provide guidance on monitoring and benchmarking the overall recovery, performance and sustainability of tourism, and promote a culture of evaluation to strengthen the performance and impact of tourism policies and programmes in the future. It will review experiences and good practices in developing and implementing timely, concrete indicators to measure the economic, environmental and social impacts of tourism, and the transition to more sustainable models of tourism development. It will combine practical bottom up and aspirational top down approaches to identify a core set of indicators to monitor and benchmark the effectiveness of policy interventions to manage tourism development sustainably. It will consider the potential for using new data sources and tools to complement existing data sources and improve the timeliness and granularity of tourism data. Strengthening the relevance and impact of OECD instruments under the responsibility of the Tourism Committee (a revised instrument) The OECD has two existing legal instruments on tourism: the Recommendation of the Council on Government Action to Promote Tourism [C(65)85 as amended by C(68)35, OECD/LEGAL/0068] and the Decision-Recommendation of the Council on International Tourism Policy [C(85)165/FINAL as amended by C(86)199/FINAL, OECD/LEGAL/0222]. These instruments are being revised as part of an OECD-wide standard-setting review [C(2016)47/REV1], which aims to ensure that OECD legal instruments continue to respond, in a timely manner, to the new challenges that governments are facing. This activity will complete the ongoing implementation of the roadmap approved by the Tourism Committee to review the two existing OECD legal instruments on tourism. It is an opportunity for the Tourism Committee to reflect on long-term policy objectives, and develop a revised standard(s) to advance important domestic policy agendas, promote international co-operation, adapt to evolving challenges, and strengthen implementation. 1.2.4.2 Fostering tourism recovery and resilience Supporting recovery and preparing for a more resilient tourism economy (series of workshops- webinars, one good practice study) As tourism navigates the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the new uncertainties arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, policy responses need to evolve to mitigate the impacts and support recovery. Those tourism businesses, destinations and branches of the tourism sector that have been hardest hit will need particular support, where their survival is in line with strategic objectives. While the full impacts on tourism activity will only emerge in time, it is also appropriate to consider the outcomes and effectiveness of the policy response, and draw lessons to address the gaps in government and industry preparedness, and strengthen the capacity to manage future crises. This activity will build on work started in 2020 to support recovery and draw on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance the resilience of the tourism economy for the future. It will facilitate knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences to support recovery and adaptation of the most impacted sub-sectors, destinations and businesses, including SMEs. It will track and analyse the effectiveness of policy responses to support the international and domestic tourism recovery, and draw lessons from government and private sector responses during the pandemic. It will support the development of tourism recovery strategies, plans and programmes to address priority issues to strengthen the resilience of the sector. It will focus on priority weaknesses exacerbated by recent crises, and consider ways to prepare tourism for more frequent shocks in the future. This work will incorporate a foresight component, including scenario planning for the short, medium and long term. Core questions include: What response measures were most effective? What could be improved? How to best target and evolve tourism recovery supports? Which sub-sectors, destinations and businesses to 2 support, and how? What priority issues to strengthen long term resilience of the sector? How to strengthen the capacity of governments and support the private sector to respond and adapt to shocks? What lessons to be better prepared and inform responses to future crises? What lessons and innovations to inform more effective policy design and address future policy challenges? What role for strategic foresight and scenario planning? Strengthening the tourism workforce to optimise the quality of the recovery and transformation for the future (one report, one good practice study) Disruption caused by COVID-19 led to workers leaving the sector for job opportunities elsewhere in the economy, restricted worker mobility, and resulted in labour and skills shortages that risk constraining the recovery. The pandemic has also exacerbated long standing issues impacting the ability of the sector to attract and retain workers (e.g. job insecurity, salary levels, career prospects, competition from other sectors). Tourism trends and wider transitions are changing the nature of work, and highlighting the need to upskill and reskill the tourism workforce to adapt to changing consumer and business needs. This activity will develop understanding of the impact of the pandemic on tourism employment, labour and skills and the implications for recruitment, retention and recovery. It will consider policy initiatives and reforms to address tourism workforce trends and challenges post-COVID-19. It will explore innovative policy solutions to address labour and skills gaps, and improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of tourism employment. It will explore ways to respond to shifts in the tourism labour force and the changing nature of tourism jobs, and develop the skills mix to accelerate the transformation to a greener, digital and more resilient tourism economy (taking into account green, digital and other trends). Core questions include: What impact of COVID-19 on the tourism workforce? How is this impacting long standing structural employment issues in the sector? Do some tourism sub-sectors face particular issues? Do tourism SMEs face particular issues? How have tourism businesses, policy makers responded? What tourism workforce challenges and opportunities from the green and digital transition? What good practices and innovative solutions to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of tourism employment? What data to support policy making? 1.2.4.3 Supporting sustainable and inclusive tourism development Accelerating the transition and adaptation to a green tourism economy (one report, one good practice study) Tourism has a complex relationship with the environment, as it both impacts and is highly dependent on its quality. This requires adaptation to climate and other changes to be addressed alongside actions to mitigation and reduce the environmental impacts from tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a greater awareness of these issues, providing an enhanced incentive and opportunity to tackle them, throughout the tourism ecosystem. This activity will consider ways to accelerate the transition to a green tourism economy, and to incorporate climate action into tourism strategies and programmes. It will consider the role of government in creating the framework conditions for private sector action, and take stock of mitigation and adaptation efforts, with a view to identifying areas for improvements. It will explore policy solutions to promote more resource efficient models of tourism and accelerate the contribution to carbon reduction commitments, including through the use of digital tools. It will identify opportunities for collaborative public-private action to promote sustainable use of natural resources by tourists, businesses of all sizes and destinations. It will consider ways to address the impact of environmental change on tourism, and promote climate resilient tourism development in destinations. It will offer guidance and 3 collect best practices on supporting the recovery of the tourism economy in an environmentally sustainable way. Core questions include: What are the priorities in the transition to greener models of tourism development? What challenges and opportunities for tourism to contribute to net zero ambitions? How to translate these ambitions into concrete actions? What role for government, and private sector? How to support tourists, businesses and destinations to be greener? What is the role for tourism in developing greener communities? What incentives and financial assistance for tourism businesses? What business case for action? Do SMEs require particular supports? What mitigation and adaptation supports? How to promote climate resilient tourism development? What role for digital technologies? What potential trade-offs with economic and social recovery objectives? Building a strong policy framework for sustainable tourism development and destination management (one report, one good practice study) The crisis triggered by COVID-19 presents a unique opportunity to rethink the tourism system and move to stronger, more sustainable models of tourism development. Many sustainability issues are best tackled at local destination level to address diverse and specific needs, with broad stakeholder engagement and involvement of local tourism communities. Co-ordinated policy approaches are needed to support this, along with improved capacity of government at all levels, and the private sector. This activity will consider how to promote the shift to sustainable models of tourism development and destination management. It will review initiatives to promote sustainable investment and infrastructure, and better balance and spread the economic, environmental and social impacts at the destination level. It will identify ways to improve co-ordination and framework conditions between tourism planning and management structures across levels of government and policy areas. It will explore ways to strengthen sustainable destination development and management capacity, and more effectively engage the private sector and local communities, including through destination management organisations. It will incorporate a foresight component on the future of tourism, and implications for destination management. Core questions include: How to foster the sustainable development of tourism destinations at national, subnational and local level? How are the roles, responsibility and expectations of government changing? What role for destination management organisations, and how to strengthen local governance structures? Which strategies at the national level to support actions at the local level? How to actively engage stakeholders, including local communities, to support targeted and effective policies? How to better co-ordinate across different bodies and levels of government? What tools and metrics to monitor and evaluate sustainability? What role for certification systems in promote more sustainable consumption and production? How to encourage private sector investment? 4 Other priorities identified in the draft PWB 2023-24 To note: These activities will be funded through Voluntary Contributions distinct from those supporting the overall programme of work of the Tourism Committee. Global Forum on Tourism Statistics, Knowledge and Policies (one Global Forum) The Global Forum on Tourism Statistics, Knowledge and Policies is a key tool to fulfil the Tourism Committee’s Mandate to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism. Building on the success of the Global Forum hosted by Korea in 2021, it will aim to embrace emerging tourism policy topics and discuss their overarching implications for policy implementation. It will benefit from wider stakeholder engagement, provide higher visibility for the work of the Tourism Committee, and strengthen the Committee’s role as an opinion leader on global tourism issues. Tourism policy supports (ten reports) Tourism policy supports aim to enhance tourism performance, competitiveness and innovation, to increase knowledge about tourism policy design and evaluation, to diffuse evidence-based lessons and good practices, and to strengthen policy coherence and linkages. Tourism strategy supports are collaborative, action-oriented projects to support national tourism strategy development and policy reforms through frequent consultation and technical seminars in selected policy areas. OECD works with governments to develop and implement a tourism strategy and reform agenda setting out principles, policies and objectives for action. These projects aim to guide policy choices, build consensus on tourism policy priorities, and promote co-ordinated implementation. Tourism policy reviews (Mexico, Italy) provide comprehensive analysis and tailored advice on how to improve the design and implementation of tourism policies, and can be undertaken at the request of national, regional and/or local authorities. The scope and focus of the review is determined with the national/subnational partner, in close consultation with the Tourism Committee. Thematic policy studies (Tourism and the Creative Economy, Impact of Culture on Tourism) provide in- depth analysis and concrete recommendations on a policy issue, and contribute to policy coherence by analysing linkages between tourism and other areas. Possible themes include: Investment attraction to support sustainable destination development; Using new data sources and analytics to support data- driven tourism policies; Developing smart tourism destinations; Green mobility and travel systems for tourism; Linking tourism, culture and creative economy; Tourism as a driver of economic development in South East Asia. Work may lead to requests for support to implement specific policies, strategies and reforms. Tourism policy workshops and dialogues (four workshops/dialogues) Tourism policy workshops and dialogues aim to provide policy insights on tourism reforms, strategies and issues high on the tourism policy agenda. They are a platform for discussion and tool to gather best practices, exchange experiences and provide policy insights. The focus and scope of the workshops and dialogues will be identified with the lead partner(s), in close consultation with the Tourism Committee. They will be hosted by Member or Partner countries, or the private sector. Work may consist of one-off workshops on a specific issue, or a series of workshops to build an ongoing dialogue and co-operation with policy makers and other stakeholders. A dialogue could for instance focus on bringing together public and private actors together to share knowledge and exchange on using new data sources and data analytics to strengthen tourism statistics and the wider tourism data ecosystem, to support data-driven policies. 5 ANNEX 2 - MODEL FOR THE OFFER LETTER [Letterhead of the donor ministry/organisation] Ms. Lamia KAMAL-CHAOUI Director Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities OECD 2, rue André Pascal 75775 Paris C e dex 16 France [Date] Dear Ms. Kamal - Chaoui , I am writing to inform you that [name of donor] will contribute [EUR] [amount] for 20 2 3 and [EUR] [amount] for 202 4 to the Output Area 1.2.4 Tourism which is included in the 202 3 -2 4 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme of Work and Budget. I note that the OECD shall administer the contribution in accordance with its Financial Regulations and other relevant rules, policies and procedures which provide for an administrative cost recovery charge of 6. 48 % of the total contribution amount. I note that the results of the work, in whatever form, shall be the sole property of the OECD. Th e amount of [EUR] [amount] will be paid on [ insert date /month and year ] , upon receipt of an invoice from the OECD . Any uncommitted and unspent balances on this voluntary contribution may be used for outputs included in Future Programme s of Work and Budget for the same Output Area . Any disagreement arising out of or relating to the interpretation of, compliance with or execution of this contribution shall be resolved by the Parties by mutual agreement. The present letter and your confirmation of acceptance shall form a binding agreement between us. Yours sincerely, [Handwritten signature] [ Name of the authorised official – Title ] IMPORTANT NOTE – Your original offer letter should be signed and sent by regular mail (with an electronic copy sent by e - mail to [email protected] ), and must include the following information to enable the OECD to receive your contribution: Output Area for which the voluntary contribution (VC) is given : Output Area Tourism 1.2.4 ; Clear indication of the entity giving the VC ( e.g. a specific government ministry or agency); Firm commitment to pay a specified amount; Exact amount and currency of the VC, preferably in euros; Payment date ; Signature of an authorised official Note: Your annual contribution can be paid in either i) one instalment in covering the 202 3 -2 4 biennium, or ii) two instalments , in 202 3 and 202 4 respectively . The letter should clearly state the date/month and year the instalment ( s ) will be paid . MODEL FOR THE SMALL GRANTS UNDER EUR 7 500 (the contribution should be made by email) I am writing to inform you that [name of donor] will contribute [ EUR] [ amount] for 202 3 and [EUR] [amount] for 202 4 to the Output Area 1.2.4 Tourism which is included in the 202 3 -2 4 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme of Work and Budget. t his amount will be paid on [insert date or upon receipt of an invoice ] from the OECD. Please note that "small grants" are subject to a fixed administrative cost recovery charge of EUR 75.