EAS 2012 - Registration opens soon

In just a few more weeks registration will be open for Euro Attractions Show (EAS) 2012. EAS is offering very special discounted rates for members- however the special rates are time sensitive, so register early! Don’t miss the opportunity to register, save money and plan ahead for your annual visit to see what’s hot, what’s new and what you need to know about the future of the attractions industry in Europe. The team is preparing a very special three days of exhibits, seminars, tours, and special events. Based on the success of last year, EAS is once again offering a post tour to two very special German parks- space is limited. Plan ahead and look for future emails announcing the opening of registration. Visit the EAS website for more information and updates on EAS 2012 – Berlin, 9-11 October 2012.

What's New Press Release

IAAPA has once again issued a press release listing many new attractions among its European members. The press release contains information on more than 30 attractions from 8 countries. It is translated into five languages and was distributed among consumer press throughout Europe. Please click here for the full press release.

Social Media

IAAPA Europe is viral! Join more than 400 followers on our twitter page to keep updated on IAAPA Europe or check out our facebook page for more detailed information on the association, events and the most recent news from the European park industry.

European Ride Safety Report

IAAPA Europe is once again coordinating the European Ride Safety Report for calendar year 2011. With your help the report will highlight the excellent safety record of the European attractions industry. The report is of great importance as this information is used to represent and protect the image of the industry. Note: Ride Safety Reporting is mandatory for all European members of IAAPA.
Please visit the website of Britain-based Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA), to find the report form. RPA has been commissioned to collect and analyze the data. Please submit the completed form to RPA by 15th May 2012. Remember that the ride safety information you provide is strictly confidential.

VAT on take-away food from snack stalls

The German Bundesfinanzhof (BFH, or federal fiscal court) has responded to the rulings made in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this year on the rates of VAT to be applied to food sold in snack bars. Read more.

Equal Treatment Directive

Three years after publication by the European Commission and two years after the European Parliament completed its initial opinion, the Equal Treatment Directive proposal is still being discussed by member states. A note sent to ministers meeting at the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council in December stated that while progress was made in the second half of 2011, "there is a clear need for extensive further work on the proposal."

Amusement Park Safety

Following the article by Bill Newton Dunn MEP in the Parliament Magazine and our reply in the next edition, IAAPA Europe met ANEC to discuss the organisation's concerns in more detail. ANEC describes itself as the European consumer voice in standardisation and was closely involved in the drafting of Mr Newton Dunn's article. Read more.

Working Time Directive
The social partners have now held two formal meetings in their bid to find a formula for revising the directive that will satisfy employers and workers alike. They have nine months in which to reach an agreement.
The European employers' organisation, BusinessEurope, is negotiating on behalf of private sector employers. Read more on the issues, which it will focus on. Read more.

New Tourism Policy in Europe

The European Commission (EC) has published an updated implementation plan for the programme of tourism policy activities identified in last year's tourism strategy. Read more.

European heritage label

The EU has agreed to proposals for a European heritage label intended to promote the continent's common heritage and encourage cultural tourism. Read more.

Accomodation Safety
Should there be stronger EU rules governing the safety of tourist accommodations? This was the subject of a seminar held recently in the European Parliament and the European Commission is planning to issue a consultation paper on the safety of services - including tourist accommodation - in the EU later this year. Read more.

Package Travel Directive

The publication of the proposal to revise the package travel directive has been delayed until 2012. Read more.

Consumer Rights Directive
The European Parliament and European Union (EU) member states have agreed to the new consumer rights directive. It comes into force in the autumn and will have to be implemented by all member states before the end of 2013. Read more.

Standardisation Policy

The European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee (IMCO) has now started work on scrutinising the new standardisation strategy published by the European Commission in June. The committee member co-ordinating the report is Lara Comi, an Italian MEP.
In September, the NET grouping of tourism organisations, of which IAAPA Europe is a member, met one of the EC officials involved in the development of standardisation policy. Read more.

Tourism statistics

The European Parliament and the Council have adopted a new regulation governing tourism statistics. This is on the basis of the text agreed to in March, 2011. As the new measure is a regulation (a form of legislation which is implemented centrally and applies uniformly across Europe), implementation is the responsibility of the Commission and its statistical office, Eurostat. Read more.

First European Economic Impact Study

IAAPA Europe accomplished a study of the economic impact of the theme-and amusement park industry in Europe. Covering 320 parks and 19 countries, the study gives an assessment of number of visitors, total revenue, number of employees, annual investments as well as induced economic impact of on-site spending at the attractions. Data are provided on both an aggregated and a country-by-country basis. You can download the report for FREE .

Year Review

See what your association has accomplished over the past year and where it's headed in the new one. Download IAAPA's annual report here.

IAAPA's European office

To better serve our European members IAAPA has opened up a European Office in Brussels, Belgium. With this initiative IAAPA is committed to creating a full service association in Europe, offering monitoring, advising, lobbying and public relations-services as well as latest knowledge & education on ride safety, industry data and best practices amongst members. On top of this IAAPA organizes the Euro Attractions Show – the primary industry trade show destination in the region.

Your IAAPA team in Europe

You are always welcome to contact your IAAPA team in Europe. Find contact details here.