The European Commission has published a report related to the progress made in the ecological and digital transition of the tourism industry.
The report, released two years after the publication of this journey, highlights results in all areas of action.
The commitment of tourism stakeholders from the EU and beyond has played a crucial role in achieving these results. Most stakeholder actions aim to back the ecological transition of the tourism industry.
For example, the Pays de la Loire region is committed to developing sustainable connectivity by 2030, so that all their destinations are accessible by green means of transport (soft or collective mobility) without the need to use an individual car. Just like the other commitments, this initiative has been highlighted on the Commission’s website, thus offering concrete examples to follow.
In addition, the Commission has also fulfilled significant commitments to the digital transition of the tourism sector. This includes actions such as regulating Short-Term Accommodation Rentals and establishing a Common European Data Space for Tourism.
It has also supported several action areas through multiple funding opportunities introduced in the European Union Tourism Fundin Guide. Furthermore, through a statement, the Commission also notes that it has created a “Together for EU Tourism (T4T)” expert group in order to contribute to knowledge sharing between sector stakeholders and to identify key areas for joint action.
Member States have also demonstrated their support for the transition journey through several concrete measures.
In December 2022, Member States published an EU program for tourism by 2030.
Through the European Agenda for Tourism 2030, the Council of the EU underlined its determination to promote sustainable tourism, considering key dimensions of economic, cultural, environmental, and social sustainability in response to climate change and loss of biodiversity, among others.
The Council stresses the importance of promoting a sustainable, innovative and resilient tourism ecosystem, given that: – the EU is a top destination for both international visitors and its own residents.
The Council emphasized that the tourism sector in Europe was profoundly affected by the spread of COVID-19 and COVID-related restrictions.
However, it emphasised that the reopening and restarting of the tourism ecosystem “provides an opportunity to leverage the COVID-19 recovery phase for a green and digital transformation towards a more resilient tourism ecosystem.”
The European Agenda for Tourism 2030 also emphasized the need to bring more transparency into relations between hosts, as well as online platforms and public bodies.
