Apostolos Tzitzikostas: The key role of Regions and Municipalities for the future of European tourism

The decisive role that Europe’s Regions and Municipalities are called upon to play in shaping the future of tourism was highlighted by the Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, speaking at the Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions, in Brussels.

Addressing Governors, Mayors, and elected representatives of local government from across Europe, Mr. Tzitzikostas, who served as President of the European Committee of the Regions, underlined that the European Union’s first unified tourism strategy is already under preparation and is expected to be presented in early 2026.

“Together we will start writing the pages of the new European strategy for tourism, which is a bridge between people, places, businesses, visitors and local communities. It is a catalyst for the positive change that Europe needs right now,” he emphasized, calling on local and regional authorities to actively participate in the public consultation that was launched for stakeholders at the end of May and for citizens on 20 June.

Tourism: A driver of growth and a challenge

The Commissioner underlined the importance of tourism for the European economy, stating that around 20 million Europeans are employed in more than 3 million tourism businesses, while the sector contributes almost 10% of the European Union’s GDP, with some countries even reaching 25%.

The 2024 figures show an impressive rise in tourism in Europe, with more than 3 billion overnight stays – a number that exceeds both pre-pandemic levels and the records of 2023. In fact, in the first quarter of 2025, 452 million overnight stays were already recorded, while 18% of visitors came from countries outside the EU.

However, as Mr. Tzitzikostas pointed out, the picture is not homogeneous across Europe. There are areas that still suffer from low visitor numbers, while others are faced with overtourism and the consequences it brings.

“The real challenge is to find the right balance. To give a boost to less prominent destinations, while at the same time addressing the problems of saturation in other areas,” he said, adding that the consequences of tourism are not limited to the sector alone, but also affect accommodation, short-term rentals and local infrastructure.

Updating legislation and boosting investments

Mr. Tzitzikostas focused in particular on the need to update European legislation, announcing that the European Commission is working on the revision of the Package Travel Directive, with the aim of enhancing security for both travelers and tourism businesses.

At the same time, he referred to the importance of the Cohesion Policy in supporting sustainable and smart tourism businesses. €4.2 billion has already been allocated from the European Regional Development Fund, while an additional €13 billion is expected to be channelled into the tourism sector from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

“Tourism is by its nature vulnerable to crises, whether pandemics or geopolitical tensions. Our strategy aims to create a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive tourism model,” he said.

Recognition for the Greek Commissioner

The plenary session concluded with a special moment for Mr Tzitzikostas, as the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő, symbolically presented him with a jersey with the number 1 and the name “Tzitzikostas” on the back, in recognition of his contribution to European self-government.

As Ms. Tüttő noted, Mr. Tzitzikostas is the first President of the European Committee of the Regions to assume the duties of European Commissioner, a fact that underlines the importance of Local Government for the future of Europe.