The EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy sits on top of existing tourism strategies released by the economic bloc’s Commission. But it still falls short of presenting measurable targets that would actually support its implementation.
The European Commission wants to spread tourism across more destinations and seasons, according to its tourism strategy — which does not allocate new funding or set numerical targets.
The EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy released Wednesday sets out Brussels’ vision for tourism across its economic bloc: it would like tourists spread across lesser-traveled destinations throughout the whole year. The Commission said that, on average, 42% of nights spent in a destination fall in its three busiest months.
The long-awaited strategy and its supporting documentation are designed to further the EU’s competitiveness, sustainability and resilience. They come against a backdrop of backlash about overtourism and a summer of extreme heat and wildfires in parts of Europe.
The documents note that destination choices are changing due to the effects of climate change — for instance, the shift to traditionally cooler destinations like the Nordics — and destina
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