In a reaction following the adoption of a resolution calling for a more balanced approach to tourism management by the European Parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party applauds the emphasis that is being put on boosting tourism on a local level.
On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for sustainable tourism management across the European Union. With 439 votes in favour of the text, 42 against, and 129 abstentions, the resolution was designed to map out the Parliament’s priorities ahead of the European Commission’s upcoming sustainable EU tourism strategy.
Following the adoption of the text, the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest and oldest centre-right group in the European Parliament with a centre-right, published a statement. According to the group, a sustainable tourism strategy, dedicated funding, and stronger support for regions and local destinations should boost local tourism.
“Real change in tourism happens at the local level. We will empower local destinations with the right tools; sound data, investment, sustainable transport, and a genuine commitment to protecting cultural heritage. We are not just improving European tourism; we are building stronger, more resilient communities across Europe. We provide tools and enable governance of tourism development based on evidence,” said Nikolina Brnjac, a Croatian politician and member of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, who negotiated the report on behalf of the EPP Group.
One of the main points of interest of the resolution is to create a dedicated support mechanism to strengthen air, sea, and land links to developing destinations that are currently difficult to reach. According to the EPP, the European Commission should integrate last-mile transport solutions into EU transport policy, which would serve both residents and visitors.
“Today we showed that Europe can lead the world in sustainable tourism, not just in visitor numbers, but in how we protect our communities, our heritage, and our environment. This resolution lays the groundwork for the EU sustainable tourism strategy we have been calling for,” Brnjac added.
The European Commission should unveil its sustainable tourism strategy over the course of 2026.
At the Informal EU Council of Tourism Ministers in Nicosia 🇨🇾, we discussed the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on tourism, and I presented our plan for a sustainable and resilient model for European tourism.
— Apostolos Tzitzikostas (@tzitzikostas) April 18, 2026
The EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism that we are preparing,… pic.twitter.com/7YPoCGQeDx
Locally-driven initiatives first
Both the adoption of the resolution by the European Parliament and the backing by the EPP of a local approach to sustainable tourism development join the conclusions of a report by UN Tourism published at the start of April 2026. In the ‘Shaping Sustainable Tourism – the Role of Tourism Observatories in Latin America and the Caribbean’ report, UN Tourism underlines the importance of regular, timely, reliable, and locally generated data to develop sustainable tourism policies. Locally-driven initiatives and participatory governance could thus become the main actors in sustainable tourism approaches across the globe.
