- The European Commission has presented the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy
- Tourism contributes 10pc of the EU’s Gross Value Added and supports over 20m jobs
- The strategy introduces an EU Model for Tourism Management and Toolbox for Balanced Tourism
- It creates an EU Tourism Academy and EU Tourism Observatory
- A new EU Tourism Alliance will unite authorities and industry stakeholders
The European Commission has presented the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, spearheaded by European Commissioner for Sustainable Travel and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas. The strategy aims to enhance the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of Europe’s tourism sector, which represents 10pc of the EU’s Gross Value Added and supports over 20m jobs.
The strategy establishes tools to support businesses and destinations, including the EU Tourism Academy and EU Tourism Observatory to build workforce skills and track sector data, the Common European Tourism Data Space to improve data sharing, and an EU Simplification Initiative to cut administrative burdens for SMEs. It introduces an EU Model for Tourism Management, a Toolbox for Balanced Tourism and a Council recommendation to help destinations manage peak flows and encourage year-round travel.
The strategy creates an EU Tourism Crisis Coordination Network to improve resilience against climate impacts, extreme weather, geopolitical uncertainty and public health disruptions. It promotes Europe internationally via the Destination Europe framework and introduces new European Capitals of Tourism Awards. A new EU Tourism Alliance will unite national, regional and local authorities alongside industry stakeholders.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas shared “This is the most ambitious, comprehensive, and holistic European policy framework for tourism ever drawn up.”
