EU aims to spread holiday season to share the wealth

SCHOOLS across Europe should co-operate in setting holiday timetables to help extend the tourist season, the European Commission said yesterday.

Some countries already stagger arrangements nationally to avoid holiday bottlenecks in a relatively short season.

Now the EC is using new powers set out in the Lisbon Treaty to draw up a tourism strategy including spreading holidays throughout the seasons.

EU Commissioner Antonio Tanjani said the aim was to establish a "European brand" to help maintain Europe as the world's top tourist destination.

"We need to defend and develop our position as the foremost destination for tourists."

He said the tourism sector has been hit by the economic downturn and needs support to maintain its place as a source of revenue for 1.8 million companies in Europe, contributing 5.2 per cent of employment and generating 5 per cent of EU wealth.