- The European Commission plans to issue recommendations within six months aimed at distributing visitor flows more evenly
- Half of all tourist overnight stays in Europe are concentrated in just 13pc of regions
- Tourism generates about 10pc of the EU’s gross value added and supports more than 20m jobs
- The strategy introduces an EU Model for Tourism Management and a Toolbox for Balanced Tourism
- Special attention will be given to the impact of cruise ships on port cities
The European Commission has launched its first EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy to combat mass-tourism overcrowding by spreading visitor numbers more evenly across regions and seasons. Officials noted that half of all tourist overnight stays in Europe are concentrated in just 13pc of regions. The strategy aims to shift focus from merely chasing high visitor numbers to protecting residents’ quality of life, supporting local businesses and promoting year-round travel.
Tourism generates about 10pc of the EU’s gross value added and supports more than 20m jobs, with small and medium-sized enterprises making up 99pc of the sector. The Commission plans to introduce an EU Model for Tourism Management and a Toolbox for Balanced Tourism to help local authorities guide crowds. Structured talks involving port authorities, the cruise industry and civil society will address shared rules around short-term rentals.
The strategy includes measures to boost cross-border rail connections, easier ticketing and affordable car rentals for islands and remote regions. The Commission will work through the Destination Europe framework and partner with UN Tourism and international markets including Japan, India and Gulf countries. Special attention will be given to the impact of cruise ships on port cities.
