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REPORT (2025/2120(INI))

On enhancing connectivity, preserving cultural heritage, and driving local excellence in European tourism: destination management and regional tourism growth

A-10-2026-0078

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Daniel Attard

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The report calls for an EU sustainable tourism strategy that enhances connectivity, empowers destinations, and invests in skills and culture, with a dedicated budget line and directorate-general. It urges measures to manage short-term rentals, reduce environmental impact, and improve data sharing and crisis management.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism proposes a resolution calling for a comprehensive EU sustainable tourism strategy, enhanced connectivity, better destination management, and investment in skills and culture.

Key points

  1. Calls for recognition of connectivity as an essential service, with benchmarks for accessibility, affordability, and quality, especially for remote and island regions.
  2. Requests a Commission study on market power of major carriers and platforms in tourism, assessing risks and possible actions.
  3. Supports wider use of public service obligations, including cross-border night trains, to improve connectivity in remote areas.
  4. Calls for a robust CEF budget and dedicated EU funding for tourism in the next MFF, updating the guide on EU funding.
  5. Promotes sustainable mobility, including cycling tourism, maritime connections, and rail, with investment in infrastructure and ticketing.
  6. Urges measures to manage cruise tourism, including berth allocation and carrying capacity, and to support sustainable onshore power.
  7. Calls for a 'Destination Europe' framework and a dedicated directorate-general for sustainable tourism.
  8. Emphasizes the role of DMOs and multilevel governance, with destination management plans and support for small destinations.
  9. Calls for EU legislation on short-term rentals, distinguishing commercial and non-commercial hosts, with enforcement mechanisms.
  10. Advocates a unified, voluntary sustainability label for tourism, extending the EU Ecolabel to more segments.
  11. Calls for a tourism skills card and EU-wide upskilling agenda, with quality jobs and fair working conditions.
  12. Supports cultural heritage protection, volunteering, and funding for intangible heritage, with a passion-to-profession scheme.

Who is affected

  • Tourism businesses, especially SMEs, will face new regulations on short-term rentals and sustainability labelling.
  • Digital platforms offering short-term rentals must verify registrations and remove illegal listings.
  • Remote, island, and outermost regions will benefit from improved connectivity and funding.
  • Cultural workers and volunteers may gain recognition and support for their roles.

Figures and deadlines

  • 80% of travellers visit only 10% of global destinations.
  • Approximately 48 million European boaters.
  • 92% of SMEs in tourism struggle to hire skilled staff.
  • Women make up over half of the EU's tourism workforce.
  • Approximately 25% of Europeans live with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Legal basis: Articles 174, 195 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union