Tourism must be at the heart of Europe's competitiveness agenda
Today Renew Europe presented a policy paper “Tourism: The invisible engine”, calling the EU to recognise it as a strategic pillar of Europe's economic future and competitiveness. The policy paper calls for: stronger EU tourism governance, a dedicated budget line for tourism in the next MFF and crisis-resilience mechanism for the sector across the EU. Tourism is the fourth largest EU export category and Europe should invest in this competitive advantage more.
Renew MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú said:
"Tourism is one of Europe's largest export ecosystems and a cornerstone of our competitiveness. It creates opportunities in every region, supports thousands of SMEs and connects our cultural and natural heritage with global markets. Europe cannot afford to treat tourism as an afterthought. It must become an integral part of our competitiveness agenda and our long-term economic strategy."
Cynthia Ní MhurchúRenew Europe MEP, Ireland, Fianna Fáil Party
For Liberals and Democrats tourism should be better integrated into EU competitiveness, resilience and growth policies, while strengthening governance and coordination across institutions. The policy paper proposals include:
Stronger coordination across EU Commission departments whose work affects tourism
A more central role for the Tourism Unit within DG MOVE
Greater investment in tourism research and innovation
A dedicated budget line for tourism in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), to support SMEs
European success in tourism boosts demand for all tourism-related services from accommodation and transport, to gastronomy, cultural activities and leisure – generating multiplier effects across multiple productive chains. According to the Word Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism sector employs 40.7 million people, 3.3% of the total EU employment, and contributed 2.6 % to EU GDP in 2025. They also predict 2.5 million new EU jobs will be created by the sector by 2035, 1 in 7 of all new jobs.
MEP Ní Mhurchú added:
"Tourism deserves a seat at Europe's top table. It is a driver of competitiveness, innovation, regional development and employment. Our Position Paper sets out practical proposals to ensure tourism is no longer treated as an afterthought, but as a strategic asset for Europe's future."
At today's discussion, stakeholders and associations from the tourism sector took part.
The event discussion focused on identifying a number of practical priorities that could be advanced during the Irish Presidency and carried forward by the wider Presidency Trio.
Read the policy paper here.