European Travel Commission chief warns climate change threatens tourism

Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission (ETC), identified climate change as the primary threat to the tourism industry. Speaking at the Euronews Travel & Tourism Summit in Brussels, Santander noted that extreme weather is already disrupting operations, such as heat causing rail expansion and affecting European river cruises.

With Europe being the most visited continent, tourism accounts for 10% of the European economy. In specific markets like Spain, the industry contributes up to 10% of the GDP, and in some regions, this figure can reach 15% to 20%. Santander emphasized the need for increased investment in tourism infrastructure, including transport and accommodation, to bolster productivity.

Beyond climate concerns, Santander highlighted congestion as a pressing challenge, citing bottlenecks at popular attractions and issues within airport and ground transportation services. He suggested that while Europe is increasingly resembling a “museum or attraction park” for global travelers, such a status can be successful if the continent is “well organised” and “well managed.”