The Virtual Tourism Observatory

When will the Virtual Tourism Observatory be set up?

The Observatory will be based on the outcome of the feasibility study which is expected to deliver results by the end of the year 2012. The Observatory will be made up of three sections (described in more detail below) and other relevant input identified in the study.

What will the future Virtual Tourism Observatory look like?

• A statistical database will serve for informed, evidence-based policy making.
  A stock taking exercise of the existing data will show the state of play of tourism statistics and reveal key areas in which necessary data is missing.
• The analysis section of the Observatory is expected to deliver regular reports.
  These will describe recent developments and could serve as an early-warning system allowing for accurate policy response to the ongoing changes affecting the tourism sector.
• The policy watch section will monitor policy developments in the Member States.
  It will include a collection of best practices and will serve as a handbook or a toolbox for future policy initiatives.

The Virtual Tourism Observatory is meant to become a central source of information for policy makers, tourism stakeholders and researchers. It will provide reliable, comparable and up-to-date information. It will identify trends and developments in the tourism industry and will provide explanatory analysis.

Your advice matters

The Commission seeks opinions and advice from the Observatory's future users to complement the outcomes of the aforementioned feasibility study. Whether you have general remarks on the VTO's scope and content or particular needs that you would like the future Observatory to serve, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Please send us your suggestions and ideas to the address : ENTR-VTO-IDEAS-BOX@ec.europa.eu