Green, digital and resilience: from the European Commission a “transition path for tourism”

Transition paths are often complicated. If the goals are clear, the way to achieve them can be difficult to identify. Speaking of tourism, eco-sustainability and digital, combined with indispensable conditions of resilience are the cornerstones for the future of the sector. To better understand how to effectively arrive at a result that lives up to expectations, the European Commission presented the transition pathway for tourism. It is a plan jointly created with actors of the tourism ecosystem detailing key actions, targets, and conditions to achieve the green and digital transitions and long-term resilience of the sector.

There are 27 areas in which the tourism sector community is invited to adopt specific measures. Among the most important, there is the need to invest in circularity to reduce energy, waste, water and pollution, and at the same time to better meet the increasing demand for sustainable tourism. Enhancing data sharing practices to allow for new innovative tourism services and improve the sustainable management of destinations is another of the pillars of this transition. Third fundamental point is the investment in skills to ensure the availability of qualified workforce and attractive careers in the ecosystem.

“I am very pleased that we can present to you the result of months of cooperation among all stakeholders,” said Thierry Breton, commissioner for Internal Market. “By working hand-in-hand we have come up with a common vision for EU tourism and agreed upon the ways to achieve it. This pathway will set the agenda for European tourism for the decade to come. Today I would like to invite all stakeholders to join the co-implementation process”.

Active involvement of all players in the sector will be key for the success of the green and digital transition. That is why the Commission has launched an on-line survey , inviting the EU tourism community to share information about their individual and collective commitments and to express interest in working together on the implementation of the transition. The Commission will be working with the interested stakeholders to steer, support and follow up the progress of the transition.