World Travel & Tourism Council warns EU Entry/Exit System could hurt European tourism

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) urged European authorities to ensure a coordinated rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES). It emphasized that modernising borders must be coupled with flexible implementation, adequate staffing, reliable equipment and clear traveler communication to avoid operational bottlenecks.

WTTC warned that consistent border waits of three hours or more could deter demand, risking up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in tourism spending. It called for three priority actions: accelerate the rollout of the Travel to Europe app for pre‑registration, launch a coordinated information campaign in key source markets, and guarantee full operational readiness at borders.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO, said the system “represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe” but stressed that “implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveler‑focused” and that prolonged delays would push travelers elsewhere. The council noted that travel and tourism contributed about $3 trillion to the European economy and supported 40.7 million jobs in 2025, underscoring the stakes of a smooth EES introduction.