What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Added:48. Calls for a systemic approach to tourism, replacing fragmented market- or product-based logic with integrated governance models; supports the creation of comprehensive metrics covering, among other things, quality job creation, employment conditions, local community well-being, resource efficiency, environmental degradation and carbon emissions, based on globally acceptable calculating methodologies, to promote transparent policymaking, guide responsible investments and enable the comparability of data across destinations; welcomes the development of a globally recognised and harmonised set of destination-level 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 and the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS); insists that an EU-level approach to sustainable tourism indicators should be fully compatible with existing frameworks, such as the statistical framework for measuring the sustainability of tourism or the tourism satellite account methodological framework, enabling effective standardisation and benchmarking and ensuring simplified reporting processes that reduce administrative demands on tourism businesses;

Added:49. Stresses that data-centric, multi-tier governance is essential for achieving sustainability and effectively handling unpredictable crises, such as pandemics and other health-related crises, geopolitical shocks, extreme climate and natural events, human-made or technological disruptions and economic downturns, as well as growing structural crises, such as demographic decline, depopulation and housing shortages; stresses the need to factor freight and logistics into crisis-preparedness tools, in view of their vital importance for safeguarding the continuity of tourism services and supply chains; 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; reiterates that these mechanisms ensure that DMOs and SMEs have simplified access to interoperable data to support evidence-based decision-making, thereby strengthening and safeguarding resilience across their value chains; highlights, furthermore, the contributions of D3HUB in helping tourist destinations make strategic use of data, stresses that this initiative is essential for strengthening data-driven governance and preparing the sector for the digital transition, and calls on the Commission to ensure its continuity beyond 2026 in line with the EU’s strategic objectives;

Added:50. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a centralised platform based on verifiable data to map major events across the EU that may trigger local disruptions, especially in vulnerable regions, and to establish a dedicated European crisis management mechanism for tourism to strengthen preparedness, crisis prevention and resilience in the face of future crises; calls on the Commission, furthermore, to integrate the mechanism with advanced crisis-preparedness tools and quick-response measures, including early warning systems, contingency planning, strategic transport infrastructure and corridors, and targeted support through flexible procedures, to enhance tourism resilience and safety;

Added:51. 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 such as cycling and hiking that benefits local SMEs, communities, local producers, including those recognised by geographical indications, as well as cultures and products; insists, however, that, to capitalise on this potential, the sector must integrate local groups and citizens into the tourism value chain alongside large corporations, for example through expert support in the use of digital tools, the establishment of multi-stakeholder councils with consultative and advisory roles on licenses, carrying capacity, limits and planning, and the diversification of its offers to reduce market and seasonal dependencies; calls on the Member States to promote school-based educational initiatives and wider awareness-raising campaigns to enhance awareness of sustainable tourism practices;

Shaping the future of tourism with skills and cultural engagement

Change 7

Changed:23.52. Stresses that a skilled and valued high-quality workforce is the backbone of Europe’s tourism economy; is disappointednotes that structural challenges, such as low pay,pay in certain tourism sectors, informal employment, seasonalitypart-time and undeclared work, seasonality, limited training,training and, at times, poor working conditions, continue to perpetuate labour and skills shortages in tourism, further exacerbated by persistent gender inequality;inequality, as women represent the majority of the tourism workforce and dominate low-paid, labour-intensive and temporary occupations; acknowledges that in some Member States there has been progress in improving working conditions, working time arrangements and remuneration, including through updated collective agreements following the COVID-19 pandemic; calls, nevertheless, for further advancement towards a tourism labour market based on quality jobs, fair wages, reliable social protection and year-round employment, including during the off-season; draws attention, at the same time, to the value of paid training during working hours and the importance of extending such opportunities to seasonal workers during the off-season;

Change 8

Changed:24.53. Underscores anthe ever-increasing demand for an adaptable and crisis-resilient workforce equipped with digital and green skills to implement innovative solutions that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship; stresses that the digital and green transitions offer opportunities to create better, safer and more resilient employment across tourism value chains, and urges that these opportunities be fully harnessed, including through cooperation with regional and local authorities in designing specialised training programmes for tourism professionals;

Change 9

Changed:25.54. Calls for a coordinated EU-wide agenda to upskill and reskill the tourism workforce, in line with the pact for skills;skills, so as to tackle labour shortages, improve working conditions, overcome mobility barriers, respond to evolving skills demands and strengthen the sector’s long-term attractiveness and competitiveness, ensuring lasting value for European destinations and promoting the European way of life; proposes the introduction of a tourism skills card, designed in close cooperation with social partners and recognised across the Member States and sectors,sectors of the tourism industry, to document accredited trainingtraining, skills, qualifications and professional experience; suggests that training be delivered and co-financed through EU programmes, including the European Social Fund Plus, Erasmus+Erasmus+, the single market programme and the Digitaldigital Europe Programme;programme;

Change 10

Removed:26. Underlines that culture, deeply woven in our way of life, is fundamental to Europe’s tourism appeal and our national and European identities; points out that the preservation of cultural sites often relies on volunteering, which involves site maintenance, conservation efforts, and public engagement through guided tours and community outreach; commends the vital role of volunteers and local organisations as custodians of Europe’s cultural heritage;

Added:55. Underlines that upskilling and reskilling must go hand in hand with valuing every role – from human connections, which are indispensable for delivering high-quality and culturally-attuned services, to physically demanding roles that sustain many tourism services – ensuring that none of these aspects are lost as the sector shifts towards more digitally driven models; notes that both soft skills and physical work remain undervalued in economic and policy terms, often lacking formal recognition, training or remuneration comparable to that of technical or managerial roles; calls for these skills and roles to be properly recognised, valued and rewarded, as this is essential to raising job quality, advancing gender equality and ensuring that tourism’s human dimension is fully acknowledged and nurtured within Europe’s tourism model;

Removed:27. Recognises the remarkable commitment of volunteers, who typically dedicate their personal time, notably annual leave, to support cultural preservation in Europe; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Members States, to propose a baseline framework for leave that enables individuals to engage in cultural volunteering, fully respecting national labour legislation and social partner autonomy; stresses that promoting cultural volunteering reinforces the goals of the European Year of Skills and enhances current EU programmes, such as Erasmus+, by encouraging intergenerational learning, the exchange of skills and deeper cultural engagement;

Added:56. Encourages stronger cooperation between tourism businesses, education providers and public authorities to advance high-quality training programmes and apprenticeships and to address future skills demands; underlines the importance of targeted initiatives – such as industry-aligned curricula, clear career pathways and mentorship programmes – that boost the attractiveness of hospitality careers for young people and help build a stronger, more skilled workforce in the sector; insists that these initiatives must translate into quality employment outcomes, including long-term contracts, real opportunities for career progression and wage increases;

Removed:28. Calls for the creation of a dedicated European fund for intangible heritage, administered by the Commission, to provide direct support for initiatives that protect cultural traditions, craftsmanship and community engagement in tourism; underlines the importance of ensuring fair recognition for those investing in heritage and skills, and highlights the need to include indigenous and community-led tourism initiatives that safeguard ancestral knowledge, conserve biodiversity and foster authentic, culturally respectful experiences that sustain local livelihoods;

Added:57. Underlines that culture, deeply woven into our way of life, is fundamental to Europe’s tourism appeal and to our national and European identities; recalls that this cultural fabric encompasses, among many other elements, sustainable traditions, archaeological heritage and local languages, whose preservation reflects genuine respect for regional and national identities and the continuity of local communities; welcomes the efforts undertaken by certain Member States to return cultural works and artefacts to their places of origin; highlights the new Culture Compass for Europe strategic framework as a key instrument for strengthening the cultural dimension of EU policies; calls on the Commission, given the EU’s diverse and richly layered tourism offer, to place EU incentives, such as DiscoverEU, European Capitals of Culture and the European Heritage Label, at the forefront of promotion of Destination Europe within the new sustainable tourism strategy;

Removed:29. Calls for annual reporting to Parliament on progress towards sustainable tourism, drawing on the operational roll-out of the EU Tourism Dashboard and measurable indicators covering the environment, connectivity and community well-being, to inform funding decisions and future reforms;

Added:58. Commends the vital role of professional cultural workers, local organisations and volunteers as custodians of Europe’s cultural heritage, whose work ranges from site maintenance and conservation to public engagement through community outreach and guided tours; highlights their role in strengthening Europe’s distinctiveness and attractiveness as a global tourism destination; notes that precarious working conditions and inadequate remuneration often fail to reflect the value of their contribution in safeguarding and transmitting Europe’s cultural heritage, a situation that may be further aggravated by increasing competitive pressure from platform-based services that undercut the prices of cultural tours and guiding services through tipping practices and connection fees;

Added:59. Recognises, in this context, the remarkable commitment of volunteers, who dedicate significant personal time, including during their annual leave, to support cultural preservation in Europe; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to propose guidelines to incentivise and enable individuals to engage in cultural volunteering, including through supportive measures that facilitate participation and promote the recognition of cultural volunteers across the EU; stresses that promoting cultural volunteering reinforces the goals of the European Year of Skills and enhances current EU programmes, such as Erasmus+, by encouraging intergenerational learning, the exchange of skills and deeper cultural engagement; stresses that the long-term objective is professionalisation, and calls for a passion-to-profession scheme that would enable training, certification and fair remuneration, co-financed through Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Social Fund Plus, to help those who preserve our identity to develop viable careers of their choice; underlines that the scheme should remain voluntary, with cultural leave never being tied to professional commitments; encourages the Member States to foster volunteering in ways that enrich cultural life and complement professional cultural employment, rather than replacing it;

Added:60. Stresses the importance of ensuring that EU funding is made available for intangible heritage under the next MFF in order to provide direct support for initiatives that protect and showcase cultural traditions – from maritime and nautical practices such as sailing to local languages and craftsmanship, including geographical indications – ensuring their intergenerational transmission and strengthening community engagement in sustainable, responsible tourism; underlines the importance of ensuring fair recognition for those investing in heritage and skills, and highlights the need to include indigenous and community-led tourism initiatives that safeguard ancestral knowledge, conserve biodiversity and foster authentic, culturally respectful experiences that sustain local livelihoods; calls, furthermore, for EU funding to support producer associations working to register a geographical indication under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, recognising this as a key instrument for enhancing regional craft heritage;

Added:61. Stresses that funded projects should promote knowledge transfer across areas and sectors and harness the strategic potential of tourism to safeguard intangible heritage and enhance its social and economic benefits for local communities, with a more even territorial distribution and fairer allocation of value across the tourism value chain; points out, furthermore, that funding should prioritise projects that advance territorial cohesion, especially in regions where intangible heritage is most at risk and where cultural tourism can foster local development and support population retention; underlines the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening the tourism sector’s ability to protect, promote and enhance cultural heritage, and calls for deeper collaboration between authorities, industry and community actors to maximise sustainable outcomes;

Added:62. Calls for annual reporting to Parliament on progress towards sustainable tourism, drawing on the operational roll out of the EU Tourism Dashboard and measurable indicators covering the environment, connectivity, infrastructure readiness, quality of employment and local community well-being, to inform funding decisions and future reforms;

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Change 11

Changed:30.63. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council andCouncil, the Commission,Commission and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States.