Adriatic DMC at the European Parliament

Adriatic DMC's marketing and project manager met with MEP Elena Kountoura as part of the ECTAA Ambassador Program this week.

As a members of the Association of Croatian Travel Agents (UHPA), Adriatic DMC's marketing and project manager Kim Butigan is one of nine industry professionals who were selected to take part in the ECTAA-run travel ambassador program in 2024.

The year-long program aims to equip travel professionals with the communication skills and policy-making knowledge to advocate for the travel sector and enhance the perception of travel agents and tour operators among EU policymakers and stakeholders.

Following a series of workshops covering communication skills and industry-relevant topics such as sustainability and multi-modality, the ambassadors were invited to meet with MEP Elena Kountoura at the European Parliament to discuss legislative issues around the proposed changes to the Package Travel Directive and Passenger Rights Regulations. MEP Kountoura serves on the newly formed committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).

Butigan commented, “The ambassador program has provided an opportunity to better understand the importance of ECTAA's work and the European affairs environment. Honing my communication skills and gaining knowledge on advocacy in regulatory and policy developments that impact the travel sector has been insightful, and I hope to be able to continue to put these to good use to the benefit of the many SME's like Adriatic DMC that play a vital role in Europe's tourism economy.“