Local and regional leaders urge systemic approach to sustainable and resilient tourism across Europe

During its Plenary Session on 10 December, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted unanimously an opinion urging the European Union to fundamentally rethink how tourism is managed across Europe. Led by Margarita Prohens Rigo (ES/EPP), President of the Balearic Islands Government, the opinion calls for a EU strategy that protects residents' quality of life, preserves natural and cultural assets and ensures that tourism remains a real driver of shared prosperity.

With over 551 million visitors in 2024, Europe remains the world's top destination, but many regions are under pressure from overcrowding, housing shortages, environmental impacts, and overstretched services. The CoR warns that tourism's economic benefits will not be sustainable unless demand is managed intelligently, territorial limits are respected, and communities are placed at the centre of decision-making.

The CoR welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the EU's sustainable tourism strategy and calls for a stronger role for local and regional authorities in shaping, managing, and regulating their destinations. Regions and cities urge the EU to reinforce their institutional, financial, and technical capacities while supporting training programmes for tourism managers. The opinion stresses the need for tailored approaches for regions with exceptional geographical conditions, such as islands, mountain areas, rural zones, and outermost regions. These areas should receive targeted actions and funding to develop sustainable and resilient tourism that promotes social progress.

It also highlights the impact of unregulated short-term rentals on housing, social cohesion, and public services, calling for effective regulation, monitoring, enforcement of EU data-sharing rules, and limits on new permits.

Local and regional leaders emphasise that tourism policy must align with the green transition. This includes investments in multimodal and low-emission mobility, sustainable access to natural and cultural sites, efficient connectivity for islands and remote areas, strict EU-wide water-efficiency standards, and measures promoting circularity in energy, water, food, and materials.

Finally, the CoR urges the European Commission and Council to turn the EU sustainable-tourism strategy into an action plan with clear resources, timelines, and evaluation mechanisms. It proposes establishing a committee on sustainable territorial tourism with local and regional authorities, experts, and thematic networks to share best practices and ensure effective, place-based implementation of the strategy.

Quote

Rapporteur Margarita Prohens Rigo (ES/EPP), President of the Balearic Islands Government: "With this opinion we aim to take a decisive step: to move from managing tourism to transforming it, and to turn it into a true ally for correcting imbalances, boosting sustainable competitiveness, and generating social and territorial returns. Because the tourism of the future will not be the one that attracts the most visitors, but the one that delivers the greatest well-being to its citizens. We want this opinion to become a lever for change, a lever that our territories are waiting for, that our citizens deserve, and that Europe needs."

Background

• Video and photos from the session.

• The European Parliament is preparing a report on "Enhancing connectivity, preserving cultural heritage and driving local excellence in European tourism - destination management and regional tourism growth" led by MEP Daniel Attard (MT/S&D), and a report on the "Framework for strengthening the availability and security of supply of critical medicinal products as well as the availability of, and accessibility of, medicinal products of common interest" led by MEP Tomislav Sokol (HR/EPP).

Contact

Hélène Dressen Tel: +32 471502795 [email protected]