Source: European Parliament
Tourism is indeed contributing approximately 10% of GVA (Gross value added) to the EU, employing over 20 million people.
The Commission has been working together with tourism stakeholders in supporting resilient, sustainable and digitally-fit European tourism along the priorities and actions agreed together under the Transition Pathway for Tourism and European Agenda for Tourism 2030.
Transnational projects are supported by several EU programmes, such as Interreg, LIFE, Single Market Programme. For example, the Eurovelo project supported by the LIFE programme and managed by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), is developing a network of 17 long distance cycle routes that cross and connect the whole of Europe.
The 2021-2027 Interreg programmes have allocated almost EUR 2 billion from cohesion policy funds to finance projects under the specific objective tourism and cultural heritage, a key area for cooperation and regional development.
There is a strong link between tourism and other EU priorities, such as enhanced research and innovation, environmental protection, and competitiveness.
For example, INTERSMART is a transnational cooperation project co-financed under the Interreg Black Sea Basin programme where partners are working together to create a transnational Network for Interdisciplinary Solutions for Smart Sustainable Tourism and Services in the Black Sea Basin.