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Tourism policy at EU level aims to:
- increase the sustainable competitiveness of the EU as a tourist destination;
- promote the European Cultural and Natural Heritage; and
- foster European integration, social and territorial cohesion, create decent jobs and growth.
The EU does not have a common tourist visa. However, the Schengen area allows visa-free travel for its 26 member states (22 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) as well as several other associated countries.
Why does the EU have a say in tourism?
Article 195 of the Treaty establishing the European Community gives the EU the power to take action in the field of tourism if and in so far as the objectives set out in the Treaty cannot be sufficiently achieved at the level of the Member States.
The main challenges that the EU tourism policy addresses include:
- strong seasonality in tourism;
- concentration of tourism in a limited number of regions and cities;
- the need to diversify the supply and create niche and sustainable tourism offers;
- increasing international competition;
- the need to improve skills, qualifications, and entrepreneurship;
- the role of culture, natural and cultural heritage in tourism development.
Key actions and instruments of the EU tourism policy
- European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) which monitors the performance of the EU tourism sector and provides data and analysis of the latest tourism trends;
- European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) which promotes accessible tourism for all, including for persons with disabilities;
- European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) which promotes cultural tourism in Europe;
- European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) which rewards European destinations for their sustainable tourism practices;
- Erasmus+ programme which supports education, training, youth and sport across Europe, including in the field of tourism; and
- European Investment Bank (EIB) which provides funding for tourism-related projects.