What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Added:4. Observes, at the same time, that many emerging destinations – from outermost territories to rural heartlands, mountain communities and island regions – grapple with unique connectivity challenges, and stresses that the EU’s sustainable tourism strategy must identify tailored support mechanisms that reflect their specific profiles and vulnerabilities, especially to reinforce the air, sea and land links that sustain their connectivity; insists that any connectivity expansion be matched by quality infrastructure and dependable services, enabling destinations to manage new or diversified tourism flows without undermining accessibility or affordability for residents, especially in the vulnerable regions identified above;

Removed:7. Calls for the EU to support clean transport options, such as electric and hybrid ferries with shore power and hybrid-electric aircraft, with priority for islands and peripheral territories;

Added:5. Calls for exploring the potential for the wider deployment of public service obligations (PSOs), including multimodal configurations and cross-border night trains, to serve residents and visitors alike – especially in remote and outermost regions, coastal areas and islands – stressing the importance of their role in reinforcing territorial and social cohesion;

Removed:8. Recognises rail as a cornerstone of sustainable tourism and a viable alternative to more polluting modes of transport; calls for increased investment in cross-border rail infrastructure and simplified rail ticketing to improve travel flexibility; welcomes the vision for a high-speed rail network to promote efficient rail connections between European capitals as an alternative to short-haul flights, while expanding tourism to peripheral regions beyond traditional hotspots; furthermore, sees night trains as a key asset for diversifying tourism and enabling the development of underserved tourism destinations;

Added:6. Highlights the central role of the completed core, extended core and comprehensive Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), complemented by a range of sustainable transport service options, in achieving a more balanced territorial distribution of tourism within the EU, including by promoting off-season demand; stresses that prioritising cross-border projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has been key in delivering progress on TEN-T, and calls for a robust CEF budget under the next MFF to support a sustainable, accessible and interconnected European transport system, which is equally vital for tourism in all regions of the EU;

Removed:9. Welcomes the upcoming sustainable transport investment plan (STIP), expecting it to spur investment in sustainable fuels for aviation and maritime transport, which are hard-to-abate sectors; urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the path to net zero, particularly the shift to sustainable fuels, avoids hidden costs, excessive bureaucracy or unfair airline surcharges that inflate ticket prices for tourists, citizens and SMEs; warns against the introduction of new fiscal burdens, such as a fuel tax, that could jeopardise the connectivity, affordability and competitiveness of the tourism sector;

Added:7. Welcomes the opportunities presented by the 2028-2034 MFF legislative proposals to strengthen EU support for sustainable, competitive and resilient tourism; highlights, in particular, the provisions of the proposed national and regional partnership plan regulation, which recognise sustainable tourism services as a specific objective and open avenues for investment in the digital transformation, circular economy approaches, sustainable mobility, skills and workforce upskilling, tourism diversification, climate adaptation and destination management; acknowledges that the proposed regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund creates prospects to support sustainable tourism via the clean transition, industrial decarbonisation and SME competitiveness measures; takes note, however, that the new MFF proposal once again fails to include an EU programme and a stand-alone budget line for sustainable tourism, noting that the availability of EU funding to develop secondary and capillary transport networks, which are necessary to support the sustainable development of the tourism sector, diversify tourism flows and support the accessibility of remote, peripheral, outermost and island regions, remains unclear; insists that the next MFF should neither marginalise a significant number of regions nor reduce funding for projects integrated into the global network in order to avoid territorial disparities and uphold the EU’s social and territorial cohesion; is concerned that the outermost regions are facing reduced co-financing, despite their extreme remoteness from the continent and the corresponding need for secure connectivity and sustainable investment; reiterates, moreover, that the EU’s islands and outermost regions, which face stronger competitive pressure from non-EU regions, are vital to the EU’s regional tourism economy and should receive sufficient CEF and other funding to improve connectivity infrastructure, attract visitors and ensure that their growth becomes increasingly more sustainable and that they remain competitive;

Removed:10. Recognises the cruise liner industry as an important European sector linked to the shipbuilding and repair industries where the EU remains a global leader; calls for incentive schemes and investments that link shore-power use and overnight or longer port stays to local value creation, sustainable mobility and reduced congestion, maximising local economic gains while minimising environmental pressure on destinations;

Added:8. Reaffirms that dedicated EU funding for sustainable tourism could yield substantial returns by boosting the sector’s resilience, advancing its green and digital transitions in line with EU policy priorities and fostering sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, as well as long-term competitiveness across all European destinations, including stronger territorial and social cohesion in peripheral, outermost and island regions; stresses that establishing such a budget line is essential to ensure the effective implementation of the forthcoming EU sustainable tourism strategy; calls, meanwhile, for the guide on EU funding for tourism to be updated and revised in view of the next MFF;

Removed:11. Emphasises the need for strong, enforceable passenger rights across all transport modes, including complex multimodal journeys, to maintain Europe’s competitive advantage in global tourism; takes note of the growing expectations of travellers for reliability, transparency and protection during disruptions, including when journeys combine different transport modes or operators; in this context, stresses the paramount importance of robust passenger rights for travellers with reduced mobility, first and foremost to strengthen inclusivity and social equity, but also to reinforce Europe’s standing as a provider of accessible, high-quality tourism and transport services, further enhancing the competitiveness of European tourism;

Added:9. Calls for the EU sustainable tourism strategy, alongside the next MFF, to prioritise and identify clear funding mechanisms to support the transition towards sustainable tourism models in regions affected by seasonality, climate change, demographic strain, permanent or intense visitor pressure, diminished attractiveness, high sectoral specialisation and asset degradation, and in small and medium-sized and emerging destinations with high hosting potential; emphasises that such funding should support pilot projects, capacity building and structural transformation, prioritising sustainable infrastructure, clean connectivity, territorial diversification and training programmes that strengthen local talent and help workers adapt to new skills and market needs;

Added:10. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to make every effort to integrate sustainable tourism mobility into EU transport policy, with investment in last-mile connections – including public transport and active mobility, and sustainable and affordable urban mobility solutions – for the benefit of visitors and residents alike; calls on the Commission to provide targeted support for using low- and zero-emission vehicles in tourism – for example, through incentives for e-vehicle leasing and charging infrastructure – particularly in island, rural, mountainous and outermost regions, to boost sustainable mobility and reduce the environmental footprint of visitors; calls on the Commission to step up the promotion of the existing EU Tourism Platform, facilitating the exchange of successful visitor management models and best practices among destinations;

Added:11. Recalls that the pace of this transition depends on adequate destination-level charging infrastructure, including fast-charging solutions capable of serving business, operational and passenger transport needs, stressing that targeted EU financial support, underpinned by clear benchmarks, is essential to scale up zero-emission power sources across the tourism ecosystem and ensure that mobility decarbonisation supports climate goals and sustainable destination management; underscores, furthermore, the need to ensure adequate logistics infrastructure and intermodal connections to support tourism supply chains and local economic ecosystems;

Added:12. Calls for greater EU financial support to strengthen public transport services, enabling them to become more multimodal, accessible, reliable, flexible and better tailored to territorial circumstances, especially in insular and remote areas; emphasises that such services should ensure adequate access for residents while strengthening community connectivity, social inclusion and the accessibility of tourism destinations; suggests that, where existing measures prove insufficient to address persistent structural disadvantages, the Commission should propose other tools to offset the structural disadvantages faced by citizens and businesses in peripheral, island, insular and outermost regions, and to ensure equitable access and safeguard the long-term viability and cohesion of these regions;

Added:13. Recognises cycling tourism as a strategic European sector, as reflected in the European Declaration on Cycling, where the EU holds a leading global position; emphasises the importance of initiatives such as EuroVelo – the European network of long-distance cycling routes – in advancing journey-focused tourism; calls for incentives and investments to bolster these initiatives, amplifying their significant economic benefits across regions, including rural, peripheral and cross-border areas; stresses that such initiatives foster sustainable mobility options, strengthening local communities and SMEs, and reinforce social and geographical inclusion; calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue supporting the development and expansion of European long-distance cycling tourism routes, the upgrading of cycling infrastructure and improved road safety for cyclists, including through dedicated funding instruments and close cooperation with regional and local authorities;

Added:14. Highlights the crucial role of maritime connections in island, coastal and peripheral regions, where they constitute essential services for both residents and tourists; stresses the importance of PSOs, modern fleets and smart timetabling that balance local mobility needs with tourism flows and help reduce seasonal pressures; calls for the EU to continue supporting sustainable transport options, such as ferries using carbon-neutral fuels and batteries, and electric and hybrid ferries with shore power supply technologies, complemented by measures to advance hybrid-electric aircraft, with priority for islands and outermost and peripheral territories, subject to proven technological and economic viability and supported by proportionate measures for operators and territories that heavily rely on air and sea links;

Added:15. Calls on the Commission to follow up on the study assessing the advantages and drawbacks of a possible mutual recognition of boating licences for recreational boat operators by proposing a regulatory measure that facilitates the mobility of the approximately 48 million European boaters and supports the sustainable development of nautical tourism and the blue economy;

Added:16. Stresses that inland waterway tourism and waterside activities, such as cycling, walking, gastronomy and cultural attractions, allow visitors to discover local heritage and landscapes in an environmentally respectful way; calls, consequently, for greater investment in Europe’s rivers and canals to protect biodiversity and strengthen water system resilience, noting their significant potential for sustainable tourism, and for a more balanced distribution of tourism flows across regions;

Added:17. Recognises rail as a cornerstone of sustainable tourism and a viable alternative to more polluting modes of transport; calls for increased investment in the whole of the EU’s rail infrastructure – particularly cross-border sections and sections that are vital for international connectivity – alongside strengthened support for secondary and capillary networks, to ensure the accessibility of remote and peripheral regions; recalls that railways can be developed on islands as a sustainable mode of transport and as a way of ensuring multimodal connectivity, supporting both cross-border projects and rail initiatives in island regions;

Added:18. Reaffirms the need to make intermodality a strategic priority, promoting direct connections between airports, railway stations and ports, while acknowledging that railway connectivity and intermodal terminals are equally important for delivering goods and services that also support tourism destinations; calls, in addition, for simplified rail ticketing to improve travel flexibility and the attractiveness of the rail sector, together with a rapid rollout of a seamless integrated ticketing system covering rail, air and maritime services, clearer passenger information and easier cross-border booking methods;

Added:19. Welcomes the vision for a high-speed rail network to promote efficient rail connections between European cities as an alternative to short-haul flights, while expanding tourism to peripheral regions beyond traditional hotspots; notes, however, that various technical obstacles still need to be addressed, for example, those relating to the differentiation between certain national/regional gauges and the European standard gauge; sees night trains, furthermore, as a key asset for diversifying tourism, enabling the development of underserved tourism destinations and promoting more sustainable modes of tourism, such as rural, cultural and ecotourism;

Added:20. Recalls the growing importance of historical and heritage rail tourism as an innovative way to promote sustainable travel and enrich cultural experiences at the local and regional level, while safeguarding cultural and natural heritage; underlines that the restoration and tourism-oriented repurposing of disused or underused traditional rail lines and rolling stock can contribute to the regeneration of tourism destinations, the preservation of natural landscapes and local environments, and the creation of new tourism opportunities that enhance visitors’ experiences while supporting the protection and sustainable development of local and regional areas; calls for EU funding to be made available to restore, transform and upgrade rolling stock and transport infrastructure – including railways, roads and cycling paths – that serve tourism destinations, with a view to supporting historical, cultural and sustainable routes;

Added:21. Acknowledges that both transport and tourism strongly influence the energy needs of EU tourism destinations; calls for the inclusion of tourism and all transport modes – rail, road, maritime and air – in future EU energy policies and actions to support destinations in their sustainable transition and to address their specific infrastructure needs; calls on the Commission to reinforce support for the tourism sector’s energy infrastructure, and on the Member States to incorporate the sector’s energy needs into their national energy and climate plans;

Added:22. Welcomes the sustainable transport investment plan (STIP), expecting it to spur investment in sustainable fuels for aviation and waterborne transport, including the existing fleet of leisure boats, which are hard-to-abate sectors; urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the path to net zero, particularly the shift to sustainable fuels, avoids hidden costs, excessive bureaucracy, unfair airline surcharges that inflate ticket prices for tourists, residents and SMEs, and the imposition of disproportionate operating costs or infrastructure burdens on the outermost regions, islands and remote areas; warns about the introduction of new fiscal measures, such as a fuel tax, that could jeopardise the connectivity, affordability and competitiveness of the tourism sector;

Added:23. Highlights the fact that environmental tourism taxes (eco-taxes) could deliver tangible results to local communities by funding projects that support residents and the environment; notes that a number of cities and regions have already introduced such eco-taxes with positive results, which should be analysed and possibly be used as examples of best practice; calls on the Commission to include these examples in its upcoming sustainable tourism strategy, which would offer additional guidance to Member States and regions to support investment in sustainable tourism, contributing to balanced territorial development and shared prosperity;

Added:24. Recognises the cruise liner industry as an important European sector that underpins the shipbuilding and repair industries, in which the EU remains a global leader, while acknowledging the sustainability challenges observed in some destinations; calls for incentive schemes and investments to expand the availability of sustainable onshore power supply and to promote overnight or longer port stays, especially in major cruise ports; encourages ongoing dialogue with the sector to ensure that port calls and longer stays contribute to local value creation, sustainable mobility and reduced congestion; stresses the need to encourage the sustainable management of cruise activity and traffic to ensure that economic benefits are balanced with the environmental integrity of destinations and the strengthened social well-being of local communities;

Added:25. Considers that, in this context, improved destination management should take all vessel port arrivals into account; stresses, furthermore, the need for a balanced and proportionate distribution of scheduled arrivals through berth allocation systems in order to reduce peak-day pressure on destinations and to maximise local economic benefits while minimising environmental impacts on destinations; highlights, furthermore, the need to develop a methodology for calculating the carrying capacity of destinations receiving cruise liner visitors; stresses, in this context, the essential role of destination management organisations (DMOs), together with local authorities and stakeholders, in managing visitor flows and ensuring that cruise tourism contributes to sustainable local development; recommends that the Commission compile examples of good practice to serve as models for other sectors across the EU, building on initiatives such as its 2023 report entitled ‘Good practices for sustainable cruise tourism’, in order to advance tourism sustainability and competitiveness;

Added:26. Emphasises the need for strong, enforceable passenger rights across all transport modes, including complex multimodal journeys, to maintain Europe’s competitive advantage in global tourism, while supporting innovation, competitiveness and investment in the transport sector; takes note of the growing expectations of travellers for reliability, transparency and protection during disruptions and delays, particularly when journeys involve multiple transport modes or operators; underlines, in this context, the need to develop an EU strategy for efficient tourist transport that reduces waiting times, duplicate procedures and administrative obstacles, while advancing the interoperability of tickets and travel documents and the efficiency of border controls; stresses the paramount importance of robust passenger rights for travellers with disabilities and with reduced mobility, first and foremost to strengthen inclusivity and social equity, but also to reinforce Europe’s standing as a provider of accessible, high-quality tourism and transport services, further enhancing the competitiveness of European tourism;

Empowering Europe’s destinations to advance local excellence

Change 5

Changed:12.27. Warns that unbalanced tourism risks straining destinationsdestinations, harming local communities and residents, and eroding Europe’s appeal,environmental underscoringand cultural appeal; underscores, in contrast, that when planned well, tourism holds immense value and potential to generate inclusive benefits;benefits, strengthening social cohesion, safeguarding cultural heritage and creating high-quality employment; reiterates that, as an integral component of the EU’s industrial strategy, tourism requires effective governancegovernance, including at destination level, and coordinated policy action to strategically distribute demand strategically between established and emerging destinations,destinations; preservingcalls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to take action, such as by promoting off-season demand; calls on the Member States to foster the diversification and promotion of less-frequented destinations and activities, and emphasises that these efforts should be supported by data-driven planning and awareness-raising initiatives in order to preserve Europe’s status as a top global destination;

Change 6

Removed:13. Emphasises that the sector’s cross-cutting nature should be adequately reflected across relevant EU policies, aligning legislation in areas such as transport, regional and rural development, digitalisation, competitiveness, employment and education;

Added:28. Is convinced that the sector’s resilience in navigating diverse challenges requires a clear strategy, well-defined goals and participatory, evidence-based policymaking and legislation; welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s move to develop the first EU sustainable tourism strategy, and acknowledges its potential to provide the Member States, regions and sector stakeholders with a comprehensive framework for shaping a more sustainable, innovative, balanced and inclusive tourism model; believes that the strategy should redefine the role of tourism beyond its immediate economic impact, recognising its contribution to shared prosperity, social cohesion and balanced regional development; calls, in parallel to this strategy, for an implementation plan that assesses the needs and varying levels of connectivity of each tourism region and destination, prioritising tourism infrastructure in vulnerable destinations; stresses that this plan should be supported by an appropriate funding programme, a clear timetable and a strong evaluation process to ensure a coherent and just transition for Europe;

Removed:14. Highlights the pivotal role of destination management organisations (DMOs) in shaping and delivering sustainable tourism offers; underscores their strategic advantage in leveraging their local presence to expand their outreach and build partnerships with a wider network of tourism SMEs;

Added:29. Emphasises that, in order to succeed in an increasingly competitive global travel landscape, Europe requires stronger EU-level coordination and investment to elevate its international visibility; calls for the development of a coherent ‘Destination Europe’ framework within the EU sustainable tourism strategy that complements national and regional strategies, strengthens Europe’s global appeal and delivers a consistent, high-quality impression of the continent while celebrating local excellence, supporting Europe’s transition towards becoming a global model destination by 2030;

Removed:15. Welcomes the Regulation on short-term accommodation rentals as a positive step toward more effective destination management; acknowledges that short-term rentals can boost local engagement in tourism, enabling more authentic experiences; expresses concern, however, over their impact on housing affordability, neighbourhood cohesion and local governance, potentially altering the traditional character of destinations; notes that what began as a collaborative economy model has increasingly evolved into a commercialised industry, now largely dominated by professional hosts managing multiple properties; supports repositioning short-term rentals as a community-oriented tourism service to curb excessive commercialisation; calls on the Commission to swiftly propose legislation for the sector, defining clear host categories and enabling the Member States to apply proportionate measures – such as caps on visitor numbers, authorisation schemes, offsetting and zoning – in areas affected by housing pressures;

Added:30. Calls for the establishment of a dedicated directorate-general for sustainable tourism within the Commission;

Removed:16. Acknowledges the current limitations of the EU Ecolabel; recognises the need for a unified approach to sustainability labelling in the European tourism sector, enabling the creation of a single, transparent standard that fosters consumer confidence and raises the global visibility of European tourism businesses’ sustainability efforts; calls strongly for the extension of coverage to additional segments of the tourism value chain, including cruise companies, tour operators, attractions, food and beverage services, and destinations, to support the green transition;

Added:31. Emphasises that the sector’s cross-cutting nature must be adequately reflected across all relevant EU policies, aligning legislation on transport, the environment, regional and rural development, digitalisation, competitiveness, employment, education and access to affordable housing, and drawing on expertise from all these fields;

Removed:17. Calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal to phase out single-use plastics in the EU tourism and hospitality sector, ensuring a realistic timeframe and supported by an impact assessment and stakeholder consultation;

Added:32. Highlights the importance of structured, multilevel governance models that systematically involve local and regional authorities, DMOs and private stakeholders, ensuring coherent and inclusive tourism strategies; underscores DMOs’ strategic advantage in leveraging their local presence to expand their outreach and build partnerships with all relevant stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem, including SMEs; highlights the fact that many small and rural destinations lack the administrative and analytical capacity to design and implement sustainable tourism strategies, and could benefit from targeted EU support to strengthen their destination management capabilities; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to strengthen the role of DMOs through financial support, technical capacity, coordination of their activities, and the upskilling of workers required to steer destination management effectively;

Removed:18. Calls on the European tourism industry to shift from reactive to proactive management, supported by data sharing; emphasises that coordinated data exchange across all levels enables real-time monitoring and intelligent forecasting, empowering destinations to prevent overcrowding, optimise resources and adapt to change;

Added:33. Points out that structured, multilevel tourism governance models should be strengthened through the development and regular updating of destination management plans, coordinated by DMOs in cooperation with regional and local public authorities, tourism stakeholders and residents, ensuring coherent and inclusive approaches and enabling DMOs to coordinate and advertise diversified local tourism products; emphasises that destination management plans should be based on clear sustainability indicators and, where appropriate, on carrying capacity assessments, ensuring evidence-based planning and long-term competitiveness;

Removed:19. Supports the creation of comprehensive metrics covering, inter alia, job creation, community well-being, and carbon emissions to promote transparent policymaking and guide responsible investments; welcomes the development of globally recognised sustainable tourism indicators, noting that the methodology is being piloted by the EU Competence Centre to support data management in smart destinations (D3HUB), with input from 40 European DMOs;

Added:34. Observes that adopting a broader regional perspective on tourism can improve the coherence of transport and tourism planning, reduce policy fragmentation, and promote greater equity, integration and cooperation across areas with varying levels of tourism intensity; highlights the key role of local and regional authorities in shaping sustainable tourism strategies, developing thematic cultural routes, promoting local identity, safeguarding cultural and intangible heritage, and supporting community-led tourism initiatives; underscores, at the same time, the importance of integrating tourism with regional reindustrialisation and smart specialisation strategies, ensuring that tourism supports and complements a diversified productive base, rather than replacing it;

Removed:20. Stresses that data-centric, multi-tier governance is essential for effectively handling unpredictable crises, such as pandemics, geopolitical shocks or economic downturns; notes with concern that stakeholder reluctance to share data – driven by reservations over technology, data sovereignty, trust, legal risks and costs – is slowing down the rollout of the common European Tourism Data Space; points to the EU Tourism Dashboard and D3HUB as strong examples of how aggregated EU level insights can guide local action and sustain tourism supply chains in times of uncertainty;

Added:35. Highlights the particular vulnerability of tourism-intensive destinations, where resident alienation, overstretched infrastructure, growing environmental impacts and threats to local culture and heritage are becoming increasingly acute; encourages boosting the visibility of less-visited regions and developing regional tourism hubs grounded in heritage, gastronomy, nature and local cultural activities, in order to enhance local excellence and promote a sustainable growth model that moves beyond the saturated sun-and-beach offer; urges the Commission and the Member States, furthermore, to finance initiatives aimed at revitalising historic villages and promoting traditional local products, including the development of green paths and other nature trails and the creation of a label recognising outstanding rural and nature-based tourism environments, similar to the ‘blue flag’ system for beaches;

Removed:21. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a centralised platform to map major events across the EU that may trigger local disruptions – especially in vulnerable regions – and to integrate it with advanced crisis-preparedness tools, including early-warning systems, contingency planning and targeted support, to enhance tourism resilience and safety;

Added:36. Notes that short-distance, low- and zero-emission travel enhances regional cohesion by keeping value local and reinforcing SME-driven, community-rooted tourism in inland and agricultural areas; underlines the contribution of proximity tourism to easing pressure off overcrowded destinations and sustaining year-round economic activity, labour stability and demographic resilience in sparsely populated regions; stresses the need to reinforce short tourism circuits that connect visitors with micro-producers, such as microbreweries, small wine producers, craftspeople and cultural associations; encourages, in this regard, the creation and EU-level recognition of thematic local networks to promote local and regional heritage and strengthen cultural and regenerative tourism; draws attention to the role of interactive digital tools and thematic digital platforms, thematic interactive maps and event calendars in facilitating visibility and showcasing local excellence;

Removed:22. Observes that technology and environmental awareness are driving a shift from passive sightseeing to purposeful, personalised and responsible experiences; highlights the potential of itinerary-generating recommender systems to cultivate community-led, slow tourism that benefits local SMEs, cultures and products; insists, however, that, to capitalise on this potential, the sector must integrate local groups into the tourism value chain alongside large corporations and diversify its offers to reduce market and seasonal dependencies;

Added:37. Highlights the positive role of cohesion and development funds for tourism, culture and agri-food investments; notes that regions using these funds should be assisted in adopting tourism methodologies that integrate planning and implementation; calls for stronger EU support for agritourism and farm-to-fork and field-to-fork initiatives that create genuine value chains and authentic tourism experiences; underlines that these models strengthen rural economies, support local producers, diversify tourism offers and contribute to sustainable, high-quality tourism across the EU;

Added:38. Recognises the potential of sports, active and outdoor tourism to contribute to regional development, promote healthy lifestyles and mitigate seasonality, and calls for more systematic integration of sports infrastructure into tourism frameworks; highlights, at the same time, the opportunities offered by health, spa and medical tourism, particularly in ageing societies, and calls for the development of quality standards and cross-border cooperation in this growing sector; emphasises, in this context, the need to raise awareness of inclusion and accessibility in tourism, improve the range and visibility of accessible services, and develop tourism offers that benefit both residents and visitors, especially older people and persons with disabilities;

Added:39. Reiterates that the hospitality sector forms a central pillar of Europe’s tourism ecosystem and cultural fabric, rooted in close ties with local SMEs, cultural institutions and regional labour markets, and highlights the essential role of Europe’s restaurants, cafés and bars – predominantly micro-enterprises and family businesses – in generating employment across all skill levels and preserving local identity and cultural heritage; calls for policies that support hospitality businesses in offering high-quality guest experiences, strengthening cultural vibrancy, improving the quality of jobs in the sector, and creating sustainable, long-term value for European destinations;

Added:40. Welcomes the Regulation on short-term accommodation rentals, applicable across all Member States from 20 May 2026, as a positive step towards more effective destination management; expresses concern, however, about the unregulated growth of short-term rentals and their impact on housing, particularly affordability for local residents and essential workers, on social cohesion, including the displacement of residents and communities from their long-standing place in local life and governance, and on urban and essential services, directly impinging on the lives of local people; recalls that the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Joined Cases C-724/18 and C-727/18 stated that the regulation of short-term rentals at the national, regional or local level may be justified by a legitimate public interest, provided that the measures adopted are necessary, adequate and proportionate; calls, therefore, on the Commission to swiftly propose legislation to establish a coherent, data-driven and sustainable EU framework for short-term rentals, defining standards for service provision and clear host categories, and enabling the Member States, including regional and local authorities, to apply proportionate and evidence-based measures, such as night caps, authorisation schemes, offsetting and zoning, recalling that housing policy remains primarily within the competence of the Member States;

Added:41. Reiterates that tourism should be regarded as a strategic opportunity grounded in the sustainable coexistence of visitors and residents; believes that short-term rentals, based on the original premise of personal connection between host and guest, can invigorate local engagement in tourism and enable more authentic experiences; notes that allowing homes to be used for tourism can provide families with extra income and may help finance energy-efficient renovations; highlights, however, that what began as a collaborative economy model has increasingly evolved into a commercialised industry, now largely dominated by commercial hosts managing multiple properties, often operating without obligations equivalent to those of traditional accommodation providers; calls for a clear distinction between commercial and non-commercial short-term rentals; underscores that any regulatory measures should remain proportionate, adapted to local contexts and mindful of local tourism economies and communities, while granting Member States, regions and local authorities the flexibility to design and implement measures suited to their specific local circumstances and housing markets;

Added:42. Highlights the need for robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure that only compliant short-term rental activity is listed on digital platforms, given the platforms’ central role in the short-term rental market, and that illegal short-term rentals identified by authorities should be promptly removed; underlines, furthermore, that clear due diligence obligations for platforms are essential, including the verification of registration numbers, supported by strengthened control mechanisms to prevent fraudulent or invalid registrations, and by effective notice and action and takedown mechanisms to ensure the rapid removal of invalid short-term rental listings; stresses that a new legislative framework should also provide robust mechanisms to support the enforcement of, and compliance with, national or local rules aimed at managing short-term rental supply, including the effective implementation of night caps or other measures such as noise-mitigation requirements;

Added:43. Points out, in this context, that in tourism destinations with certain structural and geographical limitations, such as islands, outermost regions and certain coastal areas, tourism-related market pressures, together with insufficient affordable and public housing, compound the housing crisis; calls for cohesion policy measures tailored to these specific conditions, in line with Articles 174 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

Added:44. Acknowledges the current limitations of the EU Ecolabel; recognises the need for a unified approach to sustainability labelling in the European tourism sector, enabling the creation of a single, transparent framework that drives sustainable development, peer learning and capacity building, fosters consumer confidence, and enhances the competitiveness, efficiency and global visibility of European tourism businesses and destinations, positioning Europe as a benchmark for sustainable tourism worldwide; stresses that harmonisation does not mean the use of a single certificate, but rather the use of a common methodology for reviewing and establishing clear standards or criteria; underlines the importance of accredited, independent third-party certification to ensure that sustainability claims are substantiated, in line with the EU regulatory framework, including the Directive on consumer empowerment; calls strongly for the extension of coverage to additional segments of the tourism value chain, including cruise companies, tour operators, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) services, attractions, food and beverage services, destinations and community-friendly tourism involving local residents, to support a sustainable transition grounded in thorough impact assessments and stakeholder consultations; stresses, at the same time, that an EU-wide sustainability label should remain voluntary, proportionate, cost-effective, simple to apply for SMEs and supported by training and financial incentives to prevent undue administrative burdens for small tourism businesses;

Added:45. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support the transition of tourism towards a circular-economy model by promoting actions that improve water, energy and waste-management efficiency, curb overconsumption, prevent habitat degradation, safeguard biodiversity and minimise the environmental footprint of tourism activities on destinations, guided by data-driven decision-making; calls, in parallel, on the Commission to step up support for innovation to reduce food waste and reflect it in the relevant programmes; urges, furthermore, the promotion of short supply chains in hospitality by facilitating market access for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, including small farms and artisans;

Added:46. Acknowledges that the tourism sector is taking significant steps to reduce its environmental footprint, including phasing out single-use water bottles, improving energy-efficient lighting and water-saving systems, extending the lifespan of furniture through repair and reuse, and reducing food waste, with a solid legislative framework provided by recent EU regulations, such as the Single-Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which are still in the process of implementation; calls on the Commission to conduct a study to identify and assess the gaps in the Single-Use Plastics Directive in relation to tourism and hospitality, and to propose measures to address these gaps, including by providing implementation support and incentives to the industry in order to accelerate, wherever possible, the phasing out of single-use plastics in the EU tourism and hospitality sector, based on a realistic transition time frame and supported by an impact assessment, scientific data and stakeholder consultation, while ensuring that no disproportionate costs are imposed on small operators;

Added:47. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to shift from reactive to proactive tourism development management, supported by enhanced data sharing, and to collect, analyse and use data for destination management and sustainability reporting, stressing that this transition would help to ensure sustainable, high-quality tourism; emphasises that coordinated data exchange across all levels enables real-time monitoring and intelligent forecasting, empowering destinations to manage visitor flows to cultural and natural attractions, prevent overcrowding, manage resources, support efforts to reduce seasonality and adapt flexibly to changes; highlights the fact that the rapid evolution of generative AI risks rewarding large and technologically sophisticated players in the tourism market, exacerbating existing inequalities and leaving many destinations and SMEs behind if support and capacity building do not keep pace; calls on the Commission, in this context, to provide targeted funding and guidance on financial instruments for SMEs to foster data, digitisation and AI uptake in the tourism sector;