5. 5 Act No. 179/2006 Coll., on Recognition of Further Education Results Act No. 179/2006 Coll., on verification and recognition of further education results and on changes to certain acts (“Qualification Recognition Act”), complemented by implementing regulation No. 208/2007 Coll., on implementing details to the Qualification Recognition Act, together allow for verification and recognition of current knowledge and skills of applicants for the Professional Qualification Certificate (“Certificate”). The Certificate proves the holder’s professional qualification on the labour market and helps its holder to find a new job. Among others, the Act applies the terms “full professional qualification” (professional competence of a natural person to duly perform all work activities in a certain profession) and “professional qualification” (professional competence of a natural person to duly perform a certain work activity or a complex of work activities in a certain profession, or two or more professions, within the scope determined in the qualification standard). The Ministry of Regional Development as the authorising body to the effect of Act No. 179/2009 Coll. grants authorisations for professions in the field of housing, territorial planning, construction rules of procedure, investment policy, tourism, and funeral services. Authorisation entitles an individual or a legal entity to verify the level of acquired professional competence of an individual according to the relevant assessment and qualification standard for those professional qualifications for which the authorisation is granted. The Tourism Department is in charge of assessing professional aspects of applications for authorisation and proposals of new professional qualifications in group 65 – Gastronomy, hotel industry, and tourism; the assessment follows relevant standards of those professional qualifications for which the authorisation is requested. In 2013, the Tourism Department assessed 35 applications for authorisation and 6 proposals for new professional qualifications. In late March 2014, the National Qualification System registered a total of 30 professional qualifications and 3,837 exams passed in the above group 65 – G, H, T since the application of Act 179/2006 Coll. A representative of the MRD Tourism Department regularly participates at meetings of the Sectoral Council for Catering, Gastronomy and Tourism which reviews the existing and develops new professional qualifications in tourism. The main purpose of the Sectoral Council is to create working conditions for those who wish to work in tourism, while enhancing the quality of services in this industry. All necessary information and support materials are available at www.mmr.cz under the headings “legislativa” (Legislation), “autorizace osob v oblasti dalšího vzdělávání” (Authorisation in further education). (Note: Authorisation is valid for 5 years and may be repeatedly renewed always for 5 years. It may also be withdrawn; see S. 16 of Act No. 179/2006 Coll.) 5.6 Act on Support of Tourism Development in 2013 Draft legislation on support to tourism development represents a tool to implement the National Tourism Policy Concept, to ensure cohesion between national and regional tourism policies and uniform promotion of the Czech Republic, to increase their efficiency, and to sustain positive impacts of tourism on national economy and regional development. In accordance with the 2012 schedule of law-making activities of the Government, the draft substance of the Act was submitted to the Government. In January and February 2013, it was read by the Government Legislative Council working committees (the private, financial and administrative laws committee and the regulation impact assessment (RIA) committee). Both formal and subject-matter issues were brought up during the reading and due to their scope it was decided that the law-making process should be suspended and the draft substance of the Act reworked. RIA and background materials were prepared in the first half of 2013. Tourism development analysis was prepared and a research done among entities impacted by the Act on Tourism (position of the entities towards the Act). Analysis of the compliance of the proposed Act on Tourism with the single market was performed (to establish whether the implementation of the measures proposed by the Act constitutes forbidden State Aid or not). During the third quarter the draft substance of the Act was prepared, as well as the draft Act subdivided into sections. Discussions concerning the existing options of the Act on Tourism began at the end of 2013: Option 1 represents the existing version of the Act governing the marketing and activities of destination management organisations. Option 2 represents drafting of a new Act governing comprehensive development of tourism (this Act goes across the existing legislation). Option 3 lies in reworking and expansion of the existing Act No. 159/1999 Coll. with a view to the transposition of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on package travel and assisted travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004, Directive 2011/83/EU and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC. Each option should be discussed and assessed in the course of 2014.