The consensus within the tourism sector is clear: European tourism demands a fresh approach to confront its current challenges. The traditional model, focused on maximising visitor numbers and economic gains, has led to adverse environmental, social, and cultural impacts in many destinations.
Popular destinations face challenges like overcrowding, environmental damage, and cultural loss. To address these, European tourism needs a new model that protects nature and culture, supports the local economy, and ensures long-term industry sustainability.
National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) can play a pivotal role in this shift. Many of them are already transitioning from focusing on promotion to active destination management, engaging in strategic planning aligned with residents’ visions for their destinations.
ETC advocates for EU policies and funding to support European destinations in their transition towards more sustainable practices and responsible tourism offerings.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left worldwide tourism facing a crisis like no other with global tourism plummeting 83% in 2020 compared to 2019. The silver lining of the global pandemic…
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Supporting the sustainable tourism recovery requires that a systemic approach is in place, involving not only all parties in the tourism value chain, the supply-side, but also the active participation…
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This handbook is for European National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), to support efforts to develop national approaches that advance sustainable tourism. It is intended as a practical document to aid implementation,…
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