MHRA represented on EU tourism body

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has been selected by the EU Commission to form part of the recently formed EU Tourism Sustainability Group.

The association's EU consultant, Natalie Flynn, was chosen to sit on the group to represent the association's interests.

The Tourism Sustainability Group (TSG) has a high level and balanced representation that includes members from the EU Commission, EU member states, European institutions and bodies, industry, trade unions and civil society.

The group was set up subsequent to the EU Commission's adoption of its Communication Basic Orientations For The Sustainability Of European Tourism, through which the Commission envisages several measures for strengthening the community's contribution to the sustainability of European tourism.

The TSG, which meets for the first time next week, will have the task of drafting a detailed framework for action and allocate specific activities to the individual stakeholders with an agreed timetable for implementation.

The EU Commission is to promote and support the implementation of activities defined by the group in view of the preparation, by 2007, of a European Agenda 21 for tourism.

A spokesman for the MHRA said the selection of its representative further shows the association's strong commitment towards its members in ensuring that their interests are well taken care of both locally and at an EU level.