Royal Decree 557/2000 of 27 April, restructuring the ministerial departments, modified the ministerial structure in order to boost the government's action, facilitate the development of its political program and ensure the highest efficiency of the General Administration of the State.

As far as the Ministry of Economy is concerned, this restructuring was carried out by Royal Decree 689/2000, of 12 May, establishing the basic organic structure of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, where The General Secretariat of Tourism, under the Secretariat of State of Trade and Tourism, was created.

This Royal Decree amends the current regulation of the Spanish Tourism Institute in order to adapt its internal organization and organic membership to the basic structure of the new Ministry of Economy.

For this purpose, various precepts of Royal Decree 2615/1996, of 20 December, of organic structure and functions of the Institute of Tourism of Spain are modified.

In its virtue, on a joint proposal of the Ministers of Public and Economic Administrations and after deliberation of the Council of Ministers at its meeting of May 19, 2000,

D I S P O N G O:

Article first. New wording in Article 1, Article 3 (3) and (4), Article 4 (1) and (3), and Article 5 (1) of Royal Decree 2615/1996 of 20 December 1996.

Article 1, Article 3 (3) and (4), Article 4 (1) and (3), and Article 5 (1) of Royal Decree 2615/1996 are worded as follows:

" Article 1. Nature and legal status.

1. The Institute of Tourism of Spain is an autonomous organization of the ones included in article 43.1.a) of Law 6/1997, of April 14, of the Organization and the Functioning of the General Administration of the State, attached to the Ministry of Economy of the Secretariat of State for Trade and Tourism.

2. The Institute of Tourism of Spain has legal personality and ability to act for the fulfilment of its purposes and is governed by the provisions of its specific provisions and others that are applicable, in particular, those that are applicable to the Autonomous Bodies of the General Administration of the State.

3. It is up to the Minister of Economy, through the Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism, in addition to the legally attributed powers, to control the effectiveness of the same, in accordance with the current regulations. "

" Article 3. Governing body.

3. There will be a First Vice President, who will be the Secretary General of Tourism of the Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism, and a Second Vice President, who will be the Director of the Agency, who will temporarily supply the President, for that reason. order, in case of vacancy, absence or disease.

4. The President of the Institute may delegate to the First Vice-President the powers of management and operation of tourist establishments, the provision of expenditure and the management of payments in respect of the investments to be made to the Body in such establishments, as well as those referred to in paragraph 2.f) of this Article.

Article 4. Organic structure of the Institute of Tourism of Spain.

1. The Institute of Tourism of Spain is structured in the Directorate of the Institute and the Subdirections listed in the third paragraph. The Director of the Institute, who will have the rank of Deputy Director General, is appointed and separated by the Minister of Economy.

3. The Subdirections of the Institute, which will have a rank of Subdirectorate General, will be as follows:

a) Subdirección de Marketing Exterior de Turismo y Offices Espanolas de Turismo.

b) Media Subdirection of Tourism Promotion.

(c) Administrative Economic Management Subdirection.

Article 5. Spanish Tourist Offices abroad.

1. The Spanish Tourist Offices are services of the General Administration of the State on the outside that are functionally dependent, through the Director of the Agency, of the President of the Institute of Tourism of Spain, without prejudice to its dependence of the Head of the Diplomatic Mission concerned for the purposes of the coordination necessary for the effective implementation of the rules establishing the principle of unity of action abroad. "

Article 2. Addition of new paragraph to Article 4.

Paragraph (d) is added to Article 4 (2) of Royal Decree 2615/1996, with the following content:

"(d) The coordination, supervision, control and promotion of the activities entrusted to the Subdirectorates General listed in the third paragraph of this Article."

Article 3. Addition of new additional provision third.

An additional third provision with the following content is added in Royal Decree 2615/1996:

" Additional provision third.

All the references that in Royal Decree 2615/1996, of December 20, of organic structure and functions of the Institute of Tourism of Spain, are contained with respect to the Director General of the Institute of Tourism of Spain and the Secretary of State for Trade, Tourism and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises shall be understood as the Director of the Spanish Tourism Institute and the Secretary of State for Trade and Tourism, respectively. "

Single repeal provision. Regulatory repeal.

The provisions of the same or lower rank are repealed in that they object to the provisions of this Royal Decree.

Final disposition first. Reorganization of the tourist administration.

The Economy Ministry will prepare a proposal for the reorganization of the State Administration of Tourism within the five-month period from the date of publication of this Royal Decree.

Final disposition second. Entry into force.

This Royal Decree shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the "Official Gazette of the State".

Given in Madrid to May 19, 2000.

JOHN CARLOS R.

The Minister of Public Administration,

JESUS POSADA MORENO