EU Tourism: Resilience in the Climate Change Era

At the European Parliament, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas joined hosting MEP Daniel Attard (S&D, Malta), other Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and key travel and tourism industry leaders at the ‘EU Tourism: Resilience in the Climate Era‘ event to discuss strategies for promoting sustainability and strengthening resilience within the sector.

Representatives from ten leading European travel and tourism organizations participated in this high-level meeting, which followed the groundwork laid earlier this year (April 2024) in Rhodes, Greece, where the same coalition of 10 organizations signed the Joint Declaration EU Tourism: Resilience in the Climate Crisis Era. The document outlines ‘the industry’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, promoting collaboration across sectors, and deepening partnerships with policymakers to secure a sustainable and competitive future for travel and tourism.’

The meeting emphasized the importance of fostering collaborative dialogue between policymakers and industry stakeholders to accelerate progress in sustainability, resilience, and climate change mitigation across the tourism sector.

During the event, Commissioner Tzitzikostas reaffirmed the economic and cultural importance of tourism in Europe. He pledged to introduce a Sustainable Tourism Strategy designed to help the sector adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Industry representatives shared updates on their progress towards emission reduction goals, highlighting practical steps taken to fulfil environmental commitments while also addressing challenges for a timely and successful transition. A key theme of the meeting was the importance of maintaining active dialogue between public and private sectors. Discussions focused on simplifying compliance reporting, improving access to funding opportunities, and sharing best practices across industries.

MEP Daniel Attard (S&D, Malta), and Member of the Tourism Task Force Steering Group, underscored the need to balance sustainability with competitiveness. He remarked: “The climate-related legislative packages have been adopted, and now our focus must shift to implementation. Sustainable targets are essential, but we must also safeguard the competitiveness of the industry. Economic growth and sustainability can and must go hand in hand. It is vital that our policies deliver tangible benefits for workers, businesses, and the environment alike.”