These included for example questions regarding the lack of skilled labour and the low interest of the young generation to work in the service sector, which prevails in all EU Member States.

The conference aimed present to trends in the tourism industry and possible developments in the creation of new jobs in the European labour market at present, and the competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses in this area.

Skilled workforce is a necessary condition for the provision of high-quality services in tourism.

The two day conference provided a platform to representatives of Member States, European and international institutions, research institutes and universities, employers associations and trade unions for the exchange of opinions and experiences on employment and labour market challenges in the tourism sector in the EU.

François Ballestero, ETF, and Kerstin Howald, EFFAT, represented the trade unions cooperating in the European Trade Union Liaison Committee on Tourism.

In her speech (see attached), Kerstin Howald called upon employers' associations and enterprises in the tourism sector to not exploit the current economic situation for restructuring and reduction of workforce, but to seek solutions together with all stakeholders to safeguard as many jobs as possible and to prepare the sector for the economic recovery.

The trade unions welcomed the initiative of the Czech presidency, and called upon them to convince the Swedish Presidency of the importance to continue the work on the topic.

On the website http://www.eu2009.cz/

you can find more information about the conference, such as programme, participants, presentations, etc. The conclusions were drawn up by the Czech Presidency, and were not subject to general discussions.