On Friday 18 December, the new initiative Luxembourg for Tourism was launched at the Ministry of Economy in Luxembourg city centre with many players of the national tourism sector in attendance for the forming of the new Economic Interest Grouping "Luxembourg for Tourism" (LFT).

The tourism sector is an important pillar of the Luxembourg economy. It represents nearly 5% of GDP and directly employs 5,500 people (source: WTTC). An analysis of the current situation reveals that the potential for operational synergies between the different tourism stakeholders, both public and private, is not fully exploited. The current structure of the National Tourism Office (ONT) made in the form of ASBL does not allow fair representation of stakeholders in the national tourism promotion agency. In addition, the possible exploitation of commercial activities by the ONT is incompatible with its current legal status.

As a new structure of national tourism promotion, LFT will take over the activities and employees of the ONT during the year 2016. An important change in LFT will result in an equitable representation of players primarily concerned. The private sector brings not only more budgetary resources, but LFT also benefits more from the experience and expertise of tourism professionals.

During the set-up of LFT, the Ministry of Economy has emphasised greater involvement of industry professionals, such as the Luxembourg City Tourist Office, the regional tourist offices (ORTs), tourist accommodation associations (Horesca, Camprilux, hostels) and private companies of a certain size.

At regional and local level, municipalities and tourist offices will now be represented in LFT by the ORT for their region. A fifth ORT for the Central / West region will be created in 2016. With the hotelier Romain Weber, a representative of Horesca was appointed first president of the LFT GIE noting the enhanced representation of the private sector.

As a GIE, the national tourism promotion structure will now develop and market tourism products and packages generating revenues that will be directly reinvested into tourism promotion.

Secretary of State for the Economy, Francine Closener, said "Given its economic importance, tourism deserves a career development structure that is efficient and modern. With the creation of LFT, we have laid the foundation for close cooperation between all stakeholders in the sector for more effective promotion of the country as a tourist destination abroad. The new structure ensures better representation of each region and the lifeblood of the industry."

The founding members of LFT are:
- The State
  o represented by the Minister with responsibility tourism

- Regional Tourist Offices
  o ORT of the Luxembourg Ardennes
  o ORT Mullerthal-Little Switzerland Region
  o ORT Luxembourg Moselle Region
  o ORT South

- The City of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg City Tourist Office

- The private sector
  o Chamber of Commerce
  o Luxair
  o Automobile Club of Luxembourg
  o CFL

- The accommodation sector
  o Horesca
  o Camprilux
  o The Luxembourg hostels

Photo by Ministère de l'Économie (L-R): Christiane Sietzen (représentant Patrick Goldschmidt), Gilles Estgen, Patrick Ernzer, Francine Closener, Romain Weber, Ricky Wohl