Commission Decision of 9 December 1998 on the procedures for implementing Council Directive 95/57/EC on the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism (notified under document number C(1998) 3950) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/34/EC) (repealed)

2.2.4. Data on tourist spending

Spending (national currency) for tourist trips

Definition:

The total consumption expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor for and during his/her trip and stay at destination.

Expenditure is one of the characteristics of a trip but can be accumulated also on a personal and country level. Dividing expenditure by duration of trip, average daily expenditure can be calculated. Tourism expenditure encompasses a wide variety of items, ranging from the purchase of consumer goods and services inherent in travel and stays to the purchase of small durable goods for personal use, souvenirs and gifts for family and friends. The following outlays or acquisitions should be excluded from tourism expenditure (nevertheless they may be asked in the surveys for other purposes):

(i)

Purchases for commercial purposes, that is, resale, made by any category of visitor and purchases made on behalf of their employer by visitors on business trips.

(ii)

Capital type investments or transactions engaged in by visitors, such as land, housing, real estate, works of art and other important acquisitions (such as cars, caravans, boats, second houses) even though they may be used in the future for tourism travel purposes.

(iii)

Cash given to relatives or friends during the trip which does not represent payment of tourism goods or services, as well as donations made to institutions.

The types of spending include as follows:

Journeys, holidays, and package travel

This includes:

• accommodation (with food where included, full/half board may also be separated)

• transport

• insurance

• other (local transfer, guided tours, fees, entertainment etc.)

Accommodation

(with food where included in price of accommodation, full/half board may also be separated)

Food and drinks

(distinguishable from accommodation; in restaurants, cafes, bars, minibar, etc.; including retail trade)

This includes: drinks, meals, snacks

Transport

This includes:

• fares: to the destination and back home, within the destination public transport, taxi

• use of vehicle: cost of petrol or diesel (actually used for the trip or estimate), parking charges, other (for example, vehicle rental)

Recreational, cultural and sporting activities

This includes:

• guided tours

• sporting activities (hire of equipment and facilities)

• cultural activities (admission charges, including tickets bought in advance)

• attractions and other recreation (entrance fees, etc.)

Shopping

This includes:

• pre-trip shopping for items to be used during the trip

• shopping for items to take home (including food and drinks, gifts and souvenirs, clothes, shoes, other)

• shopping for items to consume during the stay (including food and drinks)

Other expenses

This includes:

• congress or meeting expenses (enrolment fee; expenses of photocopies, programme and materials; books, magazines and subscriptions related to the congress; annual fees paid to the organisation)

• insurance

• telephone calls

• other (e.g. postage, processing of films, exchange charges, etc.)

The Directive requires information on total spending for tourist trips, and of which spending on ‘journeys, holidays and package travel’.