Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism
Modified by
  • Actconcerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, 103T, September 23, 2003
  • Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 29 September 2003adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty, 303R1882, October 31, 2003
  • Commission Decisionof 10 December 2004adjusting the Annex to Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism as regards country lists(notified under document number C(2004) 4723)(Text with EEA relevance)(2004/883/EC), 304D0883, December 21, 2004
  • Council Directive 2006/110/ECof 20 November 2006adapting Directives 95/57/EC and 2001/109/EC in the field of statistics, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, 306L0110, December 20, 2006
  • Regulation (EC) No 1137/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 22 October 2008adapting a number of instruments subject to the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC, with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutinyAdaptation to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny — Part One, 308R1137, November 21, 2008
Council Directive 95/57/ECof 23 November 1995on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Whereas the Resolutions of the European Parliament of 11 June 1991OJ No C 183, 15. 7. 1991, p. 74. and 18 January 1994OJ No C 44, 14. 2. 1994, p. 61. stress that the Community has a major role to play in developing tourism statistics; Whereas the elaboration of a Directive aimed at channelling efforts currently expended in a fragmented manner at national level has been approved by the Economic and Social CommitteeOJ No C 52, 19. 2. 1994, p. 22.; Whereas, under Decision 90/655/EECOJ No L 358, 21. 12. 1990, p. 89., a Community methodological framework for the compilation of Community tourism statistics has been developed; Whereas the results of the two-year programme (1991-1992) for developing Community tourism statistics under Decision 90/655/EEC highlight the needs of users in the private and public sector for reliable and comparable statistics on tourism demand and supply at Community level available at short notice; Whereas the development of Community statistics on tourism was recognized as a priority by Council Decision 92/421/EEC of 13 July 1992 on a Community action plan to assist tourismOJ No L 231, 13. 8. 1992, p. 26.; Whereas the recognized role of tourism as a tool of development and socioeconomic integration can be better ensured through knowledge of the basic related statistics, notably established at regional level; Whereas, in order to assess the competitiveness of the Community tourist industry, it is necessary to gain greater knowledge of the volume of tourism, the characteristics thereof, the profile of the tourist and tourist expenditure; Whereas monthly information is required to be able to measure the seasonal influences of demand on tourist accomodation capacity and thereby to assist public authorities and economic operators to develop more suitable strategies and policies for improving the seasonal spread of holidays and the performance of tourist activities; Whereas further Community activity in this field must continue to be based on a pragmatic approach which is consistent with the principle of subsidiarity; Whereas the necessary synergies between national, international and Community statistical projects impinging on tourism must be ensured in order to reduce the onus of collecting information; Whereas methodological work developed in cooperation with other international organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Tourism Organization, and the Recommendations adopted by the Statistical Commission of the United Nations in March 1993 should be taken into account in order to ensure better comparability of tourism statistics at world level; Whereas reliable and efficient monitoring of the structure and evolution of tourism demand and supply can be significantly improved by establishing an appropriate recognized Community framework; Whereas such a system may generate economies of scale, while producing information benefiting all Member States and parties concerned; Whereas a Community instrument could facilitate the dissemination of comparable tourism statistics; Whereas Council Decision 93/464/EEC of 22 July 1993 on the framework programme for priority actions in the field of statistical information, 1993 to 1997OJ No L 219, 28. 8. 1993, p. 1. provides for the setting-up of an information system on tourism supply and demand; Whereas a Council Directive can provide a common framework to maximize the benefits of the various actions which are being carried out at national level; Whereas the statistical data compiled under a Community system must be reliable and appropriate to ensure comparability between Member States; whereas it is therefore necessary to establish jointly the criteria enabling these requirements to be met, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1 Aim For the purpose of establishing an information system on tourism statistics at Community level, Member States shall carry out the collection, compilation, processing and transmission of harmonized Community statistical information on tourism supply and demand.
Article 2 Domain of information collection and basic definitions For the purposes of this Directive, the data to be collected shall relate to: (a)the capacity of collective tourist accommodation establishments The types of collective accommodation in question are as follows: 1.hotels and similar establishments 2.other collective accommodation establishments, inter alia: 2.1.tourist campsites 2.2.holiday dwellings 2.3.other collective accommodation; (b)guest flows in collective accommodation establishments: The collection shall cover internal tourism, i.e. domestic and inbound tourism; "domestic tourism" shall mean residents of the given country travelling only within this country and "inbound tourism" shall mean non-residents travelling within the given country; (c)tourism demand: The collection shall cover national tourism, i.e. domestic and outbound tourism; "outbound tourism" shall mean residents of a country travelling in another country. The information on tourism demand shall concern trips the main purpose of which is holidays or business and which involve at least one or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence.
Article 3 Information collection characteristics 1. A list of data collection characteristics, showing their periodicity and their territorial breakdown appears in the Annex. 2. The definitions to be applied to the data collection characteristics and any adjustments to the list of data collection characteristics shall be determined by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia, by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2).
Article 4 Accuracy of statistical information 1. The collection of statistical information shall, where possible, ensure that results meet the necessary minimum accuracy requirements. Those requirements, and the procedures for ensuring the harmonised processing of systematic biases, shall be adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2). The minimum accuracy requirements shall be determined with particular reference to annual overnight stays at national level. 2. As regards the basis on which the information is collected, Member States shall take whatever measures they deem appropriate to maintain the quality and comparability of the results.
Article 5 Collection of statistical information 1. Member States may, where appropriate, base the collection of the statistical information referred to in Article 3 on existing data, sources and systems. 2. For the characteristics with annual periodicity, the first reference period shall begin on 1 January 1996. For the characteristics relating to the columns on monthly and quarterly data appearing in sections B and C respectively of the Annex, the first reference period shall begin on 1 January 1997.
Article 6 Data processing Member States shall process the information collected under Article 3 in accordance with the accuracy requirements referred to in Article 4 and the detailed rules adopted by the Commission. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2). The regional level shall be in accordance with the Nomenclature of Territorial Units (NUTS) of the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Article 7 Transmission of data 1. Member States shall transmit the data processed in accordance with Article 6, including the information declared confidential by Member States pursuant to domestic legislation or practice concerning statistical confidentiality, and in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90 of 11 June 1990 on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European CommunitiesOJ No L 151, 15. 6. 1990, p. 1.. The said Regulation governs the confidential treatment of information. 2. The transmission of provisional annual data shall take place within six months of the end of the reference period, and the revised annual results shall be transmitted within a maximum period of 12 months following the end of the reference period. The transmission of provisional monthly and quarterly data shall take place within three months of the end of the corresponding reference period, and the revised monthly and quarterly results shall be transmitted within a maximum period of six months following the end of the corresponding reference period. 3. Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12(1), the Commission may, for the purpose of facilitating the task of the parties responsible for providing information, establish, standardized data transmission procedures and create the conditions for increased use of automatic data processing and electronic data transmission.
Article 8 Reports 1. Member States shall provide the Commission at its request with all information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information. Member States shall also provide the Commission with details of any subsequent changes in the methods used. 2. The Commission shall present to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee a report on the experience acquired in the work carried out pursuant to this Directive after data have been collected over a period of three years.
Article 9 Dissemination of the results The arrangements for the dissemination of the data by the Commission shall be determined pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 12(1).
Article 10 Transition period 1. Without prejudice to Article 13, Member States shall take all the measures necessary to make the Community information system operational during a transition period, which shall end three years after entry into force of this Directive for monthly and annual data, and five years after entry into force of this Directive for quarterly data. 2. During the transition period, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 12, accept derogations from the provisions of this Directive, in so far as the national statistical systems require adaptations in the field of tourism.
Article 11 Committee As regards the procedures for implementing this Directive, and any measures for adjustment to economic and technical developments, concerning in particular: the definitions to be applied to the information collection characteristics and any adjustments to the list of data collection characteristics (Article 3), in so far as these adjustments do not make the collection process more onerous, accuracy requirements and the harmonized processing of systematic biases (Article 4), processing of data (Article 6), data transmission procedures (Article 7) and dissemination of the results (Article 9), the derogations from the provisions of this Directive during the transition period (Article 10),the Commission shall be assisted, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 12, by the Statistical Programme Committee established by Decision 89/382/EEC, EuratomOJ No L 181, 28. 6. 1989, p. 47., hereinafter referred to as the "Committee". The measures referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 6, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia, by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(2).The measures referred to in Articles 7 and 9 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 12(1).
Article 12 1. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/ECCouncil Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23). shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.
Article 13 Implementation of the Directive Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 23 November 1996.
Article 14 Entry into force This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Article 15 Final provision This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
null ANNEX STATISTICAL INFORMATION IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM NB: For the information requested under B.1.3, C.1.1.2 and C.1.1.4, the world geographical breakdown is listed at the end of this Annex. A.Capacity of collective tourist accommodation: local units on national territory A.1.Information to be transmitted on an annual basis
Data on bedrooms and bedplaces at NUTS III level may include estimates; estimates must be clearly identified as such. For camp-sites, where a Member State has no standard of its own, one camping pitch may be regarded as equivalent to four bedplaces.
Number Accommodation breakdown Variables Geographical breakdown
A.1.1. Hotels and similar establishments Number of establishmentsNumber of bedroomsNumber of bedplaces National and regional NUTS III
A.1.2. Other collective accommodation establishments: tourist camp-sites holiday dwellings other collective accommodation Number of establishmentsNumber of bedplaces National and regional NUTS III
 B.Occupancy in collective accommodation establishments: domestic and inbound tourism B.1.Information to be transmitted on an annual basis
Number Accommodation breakdown Variables Geographical breakdown
B.1.1. Hotels and similar establishments Arrivals of residentsNights spent by residentsArrivals of non-residentsNights spent by non-residents National and regional NUTS II
B.1.2. Other collective accommodation establishments: tourist camp-sites holiday dwellings other collective accommodation Arrivals of residentsNights spent by residentsArrivals of non-residentsNights spent by non-residents National and regional NUTS II
B.1.3. Hotels and similar establishmentsOther collective accommodation establishments By country of residence (breakdown by calendar month): Arrivals of non-residents Nights spent by non-residents National
 B.2.Information to be transmitted on a monthly basis
Number Accommodation breakdown Variables Geographical breakdown
B.2.1. Hotels and similar establishmentsOther collective accommodation establishments Arrivals of residentsNights spent by residentsArrivals of non-residentsNights spent by non-residents National
B.2.2. Hotels and similar establishments Use of bedplaces:
—gross
—net National
 C.Tourism demand: domestic and outbound tourism (excluding day-trips) C.1.Information to be transmitted nationally
This column covers long trips (i.e. four or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence the main reasons for which are holidays, recreation or leisure). This columns covers information on all tourist holidays (i.e. trips of at least one or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence, the main reasons for which are holidays, recreation or leisure). This column covers information on business tourism (i.e. trips of one or more consecutive nights spent away from the usual place of residence, the main reasons for which are business and professional). NB: The initials AD mean that these data should be transmitted ANNUALLY and not quarterly.Information not requested for the various areas of tourism is indicated by the initials NR.
Number Variables Breakdown Annual data Quarterly data
Breaks of four nights or more Holidays Business trips
C.1.1. Data on volume of tourism
C.1.1.1. Number of tourists (persons engaged in tourism) Total domestic outbound domestic and outbound
C.1.1.2. Number of tourism trips Total
—domestic
—outbound: AD AD
world geographical breakdown (national level)
C.1.1.3. Number of tourism trips (by month of departure) during each calendar month: total domestic outbound
C.1.1.4. Number of tourism nights Total
—domestic
—outbound: AD AD
world geographical breakdown (national level)
C.1.2. Data on characteristics of trips
C.1.2.1. Length of stay Nights
—from 1 to 3 NR
—4 or more consecutive nights NR
—from 4 to 7 NR NR
—from 8 to 14 NR NR
—from 15 to 28 NR NR
—from 29 to 91 NR NR
—from 92 to 365 NR NR
C.1.2.2. Organization of stays Direct reservation with transport/accommodation operator NR NR
Use of travel agent, tour operator: NR NR
—including package travel NR NR
C.1.2.3. Principal mode of transport used Air NR NR
Sea NR NR
Land: NR NR
—railway NR NR
—bus, coach (regular, tourist) NR NR
—private and hired vehicles NR NR
—other NR NR
C.1.2.4. Main type of accommodation used for tourism: domestic outbound Hotels and similar establishments
Other collective accommodation establishments:
—tourist camp-sites NR NR
—holiday dwellings NR NR
—other collective accommodation NR NR
Specialized establishments
Private tourist accommodation:
—rented accommodation NR NR
—secondary residence NR NR
—other types of private accommodation NR NR
C.1.3. Data on the tourist profile
C.1.3.1. Number of tourists By sex: male female
C.1.3.2. Number of tourists By age:
—0-14 years (optional) NR NR
—15-24 years NR NR
—25-44 years NR NR
—45-64 years NR NR
—65 years and over NR NR
C.1.4. Data on tourist spending
C.1.4.1. Spending (national currency) for tourist trips: domestic tourist trips: Total
including: NR NR
—journeys, holidays and package travel
BREAKDOWN BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS 1.Supply side statistics World total Total European Economic Area Total European Union (27) BelgiumBulgariaCzech RepublicDenmarkGermanyEstoniaGreeceSpainFranceIrelandItalyCyprusLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgHungaryMaltaNetherlandsAustriaPolandPortugalRomaniaSloveniaSlovakiaFinlandSwedenUnited Kingdom Total EFTA IcelandNorwaySwitzerland (incl. Liechtenstein) Total other European countries of which: Russia Turkey Ukraine Total Africa of which: South Africa Total North America of which: United States of America Canada Total South and Central America of which: Brazil Total Asia of which: People's Republic of China Japan Republic of South Korea Total Australia, Oceania and other territories of which: Australia Unspecified 2.Demand side statistics World total Total European Economic Area Total European Union (27) BelgiumBulgariaCzech RepublicDenmarkGermanyEstoniaGreeceSpainFranceIrelandItalyCyprusLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgHungaryMaltaNetherlandsAustriaPolandPortugalRomaniaSloveniaSlovakiaFinlandSwedenUnited Kingdom Total EFTA IcelandNorwaySwitzerland (incl. Liechtenstein) Total other European countries of which: Russia Turkey Total Africa of which: South Africa Maghreb countries Total North America of which: United States of America Total South and Central America of which: Argentina Brazil Total Asia of which: People's Republic of China Japan Republic of South Korea Total Australia, Oceania and other territories of which: Australia Unspecified