'What is ETC'

The European Travel Commission (ETC) is an association of national tourism organisations
(NTOs). It was created in 1948 to promote Europe as a destination to long-haul tourism markets
outside Europe.It currently has 33 members.

NTOs are governmental organisations set

Organisational structure

up to market and promote tourism to their

In addition to the overseas operations groups,

own individual countries. However, for

ETC has two groups based in Europe which

ETC's members elect a President and three

some markets and market segments, the

take their members from NTOs' head-office

Vice-Presidents to oversee the work and

European brand carries more weight than

staff. These are the Research Group and the

direction of the organisation. The President,

individual national brands. It is in such

New Media Group. As with the operations

an NTO chief executive, is assisted in his

markets that ETC is active, bringing

groups, both receive core funding from ETC

work by the Board of Directors, a committee

together its member NTOs in partnership to

to support programmes which have been

of NTO directors: seven of these are

promote Europe - and to seek to generate

approved by the General Meetings.

permanent members and up to seven more

tourism flows which the NTOs would find it

are elected on a rotating basis. Both the

The Research Group draws its members

much harder to achieve individually.

President and the Board of Directors report

from NTOs' market research departments.

to all ETC members at their twice-yearly

It focusses mainly on market research

activities intended to support both ETC's

...a part of the European Commission

and NTOs' own activities.

The day-to-day business of ETC is managed

or any other European institution. It is an

in Brussels by the organisation's Executive

independent body which is financed entirely

The New Media Group brings together

Director and Executive Unit. In 2004, the

by annual membership contributions.

NTOs' new media marketing and IT

Executive Unit had a permanent staff of two

It also generates significant funding for

specialists. It is a forum allowing

in addition to the Executive Director.

its marketing activities from commercial

its members to learn from each other's

partners in relevant marketplaces.

initiatives and experience, and it is ETC's

investment in a new-media driven future.

ETC has operations groups in the United

Which countries are involved?

States, Canada, Latin America and Japan.

What of the future?

European Union: Austria, Belgium

The members of these groups are the NTO

As ETC moves into the 21st century, so the

(Flanders and Wallonia), Cyprus,

directors in those countries. They give their

main focus of its activities shifts. The future

Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,

time freely to collaborate on joint promotions

lies increasingly in marketing Europe on the

Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

and activities under the European banner.

internet. Central to this will be the new

Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,

European tourism portal and the opportunities

Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland,

All the groups receive core funding from

this offers to promote Europe across the

Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia,

the central ETC budget. They also may

world, especially in new and upcoming

Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

raise additional funding from local NTO

markets such as China, Russia and India.

budgets and from commercial partners.

Plus: Bulgaria, Croatia, Iceland, Monaco,

Now that all EU countries and others have

Their work programmes are submitted to

Norway, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey.

won Approved Destination Status (ADS) from

ETC members at the General Meetings

the Chinese authorities, the way is open for

each year for formal approval.

Europe to tap into the potential offered by this

enormous, scarcely tested market.

President - 3 Vice-Presidents - 10 members

NEW MEDIA GROUP EXECUTIVE UNIT RESEARCH GROUP