In its 2026 Work Programme, the European Commission announced that it will come forward with a non-binding strategy on sustainable tourism to “balance economic, social and environmental impacts”. The publication of the strategy is scheduled for Q2 2026.

On 11 November 2025, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) of the European Parliament has adopted an own initiative draft report on the topic. 

The report highlights enhanced connectivity as a crucial driver of sustainable tourism and regional development. It stresses that accessible, affordable and reliable transport is essential for freedom of movement and for opening up opportunities in remote and underserved regions. The growing influence of major transport and digital platforms is seen as a risk, prompting calls for action to prevent excessive market concentration and to ensure fair competition. Investments in sustainable mobility—including rail, ferries, multimodal services, last-mile links and low-emission vehicles—are presented as key to expanding tourism beyond traditional hotspots. The report also emphasises the importance of maintaining affordable travel, supporting clean transport technologies and strengthening passenger rights for all travellers, particularly those with reduced mobility.

At destination level, the report warns that unbalanced tourism can strain local communities, and insists on the need for coordinated governance to distribute demand more sustainably. Destination management organisations are recognised as essential partners for shaping quality tourism offers. The report welcomes steps to regulate short-term rentals but warns against their impact on housing and community cohesion, calling for clearer rules to limit excessive commercialisation. It also calls for a unified sustainability label for the tourism sector, measures to phase out single-use plastics and a stronger shift toward data-driven management. Better data-sharing, common indicators and crisis-preparedness tools are viewed as essential for preventing overcrowding, supporting smart planning and ensuring resilience in times of uncertainty. Technology is seen as an opportunity to promote more meaningful, community-based tourism, provided that local actors are fully involved.

A skilled workforce is presented as a cornerstone of a competitive tourism sector, but the report notes persistent challenges such as low pay, seasonality and skills shortages. It calls for an EU-wide agenda to boost training in digital and green skills and proposes an EU-recognised tourism skills card supported by programmes such as ESF+, Erasmus+ and Digital Europe. The report underlines the central role of culture in Europe’s tourism appeal and praises volunteers who help preserve cultural heritage. It recommends creating a framework that enables cultural volunteering and establishing a dedicated European fund for intangible heritage to support traditions, craftsmanship and community-led tourism. Finally, it calls for annual reporting on progress toward sustainable tourism, guided by robust indicators covering connectivity, environmental impact and community well-being.

The European Commission has launched consultations aimed at collecting stakeholder input for the future EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy. A targeted consultation was launched in mid‑2025 to gather input from authorities, businesses, civil society and tourism professionals. This consultation was open until 15 August 2025. A broader public consultation followed, open until 12 September 2025, inviting all interested citizens and stakeholders to give feedback on the strategy.

References:

• European Commission, Commission work programme 2026, COM/2025/870
• EP Legislative Observatory, Enhancing connectivity, preserving cultural heritage and driving local excellence in European tourism – destination management and regional tourism growth 2025/2120(INI)
• European Parliament, Draft report on enhancing connectivity, preserving cultural heritage, and driving local excellence in European tourism: destination management and regional tourism growth, 2025/2120(INI)
• European Commission, Targeted consultation for an EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, webpage
•  European Commission, EU Tourism Strategy, Public Consultation, webpage

Author: Monika Kiss, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu