Members of the European People’s Party in the European Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) today set out key priorities for the upcoming EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism during the High-Level Strategic Dialogue with Mayors. EPP-CoR members emphasised that tourism has reached a pivotal moment and remains a key driver of both regional and local economies. At the same time, they warned that governance remains fragmented—particularly in urban planning, environmental management, and infrastructure—highlighting the need for a stronger role of regional and local authorities in shaping the transition towards sustainable tourism.

They stressed that supporting this transition under the next Multiannual Financial Framework will require investment not only in infrastructure, but also in skills and digital tools, which are essential for enabling the sector to adapt and thrive. Managing tourist flows more effectively and strengthening interregional cooperation beyond administrative boundaries were also identified as key priorities, alongside the need to involve all relevant actors and stakeholders. These points were raised by EPP-CoR members in their exchange with the European Commission, contributing directly to the preparation of the upcoming EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.

Addressing the High-Level Dialogue, Apostolos Tzitzikostas Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism highlighted the important role of cities and regions in tourism. He said:“It’s not anymore about promoting only our destination. It is now about managing them as well. To do this effectively, we need timely and accessible data, skills and know-how, digital tools, including AI. This is why we are creating a data center for Europe. This is why I will be announcing the creation of an EU Academy for tourism and other initiatives that you will see in June.”

He underlined that Europe must become “more flexible, more innovative and more competitive” in response to growing global competition. He also highlighted that the objective is to enable destinations to better plan and manage tourist flows in a sustainable way, while supporting local communities, preserving cultural heritage, and ensuring tourism contributes positively to regional development. He stressed the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility and making sustainability—across environmental, economic and social dimensions—a true competitive advantage for Europe.

EPP-CoR members echoed these priorities in their interventions. Pehr Granfalk pointed to the concrete pressures faced by cities dealing with concentrated tourism flows:  “One big problem… is the extreme concentration of flows when it comes to tourism.” Drawing on his experience as councillor of Solna, he explained how large-scale events can temporarily double the number of people in a municipality, placing significant strain on infrastructure. He highlighted that while investments—such as those made around the national arena and supported by private sector contributions—can help address these challenges, financing and infrastructure planning remain complex. Granfalk called for a new approach to investment, suggesting that tourism infrastructure should be conceived as “dual-use”, meaning it should both accommodate peak tourism demand and serve local communities in the long term. He also raised the issue of “leakage” of local benefits, stressing the importance of ensuring that tourism generates tangible value at the local level, including through employment opportunities such as tackling youth unemployment.

Matthew Cuip, Regional Councillor of the Region of Ile-de-France emphasised that tourism is entering a new phase and that the strategy comes at a crucial moment. He underlined that, while the sector continues to drive local and regional economies, it requires a stronger governance framework and better coordination across policy areas. Cuip added that investment must go beyond infrastructure to include skills and digital tools, which are essential for the sector’s adaptation. He stressed that managing tourist flows and strengthening interregional cooperation must become central elements of future strategies, going beyond individual cities or regions. He also pointed to the Paris Olympic Games as a strong example of how close cooperation between a city and its wider region—in this case Île-de-France—can successfully manage very high visitor numbers, demonstrating the value of integrated approaches.

The High-Level Dialogue with Mayors brought together city leaders and urban networks to provide practical input on managing tourism flows and ensuring more balanced and sustainable development across Europe .
The European Commission is expected to present the first EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism in early June 2026, following extensive consultations with stakeholders at all levels. The strategy will aim to support a greener, more digital, resilient, and competitive tourism ecosystem across the European Union.
 

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