MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Top EC official in South America to promote trade, tourism and cooperation

Antonio Tajani wants to promote bilateral off-season tourism

A top European Commission official is on a round of visits to South American countries to strengthen economic, industrial and tourism ties with the region because Latin America has emerged as “a strategic and dynamic economic player”.

During his visit European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship will be signing 15 agreements covering the fields of tourism, development of small and medium size enterprises, natural resources and the European space project, Galileo, with the governments of Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

“This is the first time in 15 years that a European Commissioner for industry travels to South America”, said Tajani recalling that the EU is the main trading partner of Mercosur and Chile.

Tajani begins in Chile, follows to Argentina and finally Brazil. He is scheduled to meet with business representatives and tourism sector and attend bilateral meetings with Presidents and Government representatives.

One of the projects, which most interests Spain refers to the increase of low season travel between the EU and South America aimed at having 50,000 additional tourists.

New promotional campaigns will encourage 25,000 South Americans to travel to Europe, notably between October 2012 and March 2013, and 25,000 Europeans travelling to South America, notably between May and October 2013.

The Memorandum of Understanding was supported by Spain, Italy, France and Lithuania, including airlines Iberia, Alitalia, British Airways, Lufthansa, Tap and Air Portugal plus the European Association of travel agencies and tour operators, ECTAA and ETOA.

“We are committed to promoting Europe as a tourism destination and to strengthening co-operation with countries of considerable tourism growth potential. Both the European and the South American markets will benefit greatly from this venture. I am very pleased for launching this innovative pilot experience that for the first time ever puts together different participants pursuing one same objective: extending the seasonal spread of tourism boosting jobs and benefiting the local host economies”, said Tajani.

The new EU approach towards Latin America pretends to expand bilateral trade and investments: trade in goods amounted to €164bn in 2010 (6.2% of total EU trade and 13.6% of Latin American trade), while trade in services totalled €44bn in 2009 (34% of total Latin American services trade).

The EU is the first investor in the area with €315.5bn, 39% of region's total (2009).

Mercosur and the EU are currently in a round of discussions, re-launched in 2010, with the purpose of signing a trade agreement in the near future. EU already has a free trade agreement with Chile since 2003.