Spotlight on tourism and travel

Spotlight on tourism and travel

In the EU, summer is often when the tourism season reaches its peak. In 2022, for example, one in four tourism-related trips made by EU residents happened in July or August. As activity in the sector hits its annual high, our summer newsletter puts the spotlight on tourism and travel!

The tourism industry makes a significant contribution to the EU’s economy. Its activities account for roughly 10% of the EU’s gross domestic product and the share of the EU’s workforce employed in the sector amounts to around 8%. This makes the prosperity of the sector pivotal for our economies. The European Agenda for Tourism 2030, which EU Member States agreed upon in 2022, aims to guarantee this prosperity. Through the Agenda, the EU seeks to ensure the sustainability of the tourism industry as well as its resilience in the face of economic shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Member States are also encouraged to facilitate the digital transition of the sector.

The EU has taken action in different areas of the tourism sector, for example, by establishing harmonised rights that protect holidaymakers on their travels and by defining high quality and safe bathing water standards for everyone to enjoy. What’s more, through the DiscoverEU programme the EU offers 18-year-olds the opportunity to travel around the continent, learn about its cultural heritage and history, and connect with others.

As well as the usual theme-specific publications, our summer newsletter also includes publications on a variety of other topics, from fundamental rights to statistical literacy.

We wish you a nice summer and happy reading!


Tourism industrial ecosystem

Through this publication, uncover the vital role of the tourism industry in the EU's economy as well as the diverse, interconnected businesses that drive it. Explore the challenges facing the tourism sector and learn about EU policies aiming to make it more sustainable and resilient.

Available in English 📖

Jobs and skills in tourism: Helpful EU resources for jobseekers and businesses

Do you run a tourism business or are you looking for a job in tourism? In this publication, find out about rules and programmes that aim to ensure a strong and competitive tourism workforce. Read, for example, about how the EU connects jobseekers with employers across Europe and how it supports reskilling and upskilling among Europeans.

Available in all official languages of the EU except for Irish 📖

Travelling in Europe 2024

With a rich historical and cultural heritage and breath-taking scenery, Europe is home to some of the world’s most popular destinations. Wherever you are travelling in Europe, keep safe, have fun and keep this handy brochure with you for more information, helpful tips and a map of Europe.

Available in all official languages of the EU 📖

CORDIS results pack on cultural tourism

Uncover the potential of sustainable cultural tourism in Europe with the latest CORDIS Results Pack. It features eight Horizon 2020 research projects looking into various areas of the industry, from the impact of over-tourism to the popularity of slow tourism. Find out how these initiatives are empowering local communities, creating sustainable job opportunities and more! Interested in learning more about the work being done by EU-funded projects in other areas like climate change and health? Check out the full list of CORDIS Results Packs on the CORDIS website.

Available in English 📖

High-value datasets – tourism in the EU

Are you eager to learn more about the EU’s tourism industry, such as how many EU citizens participate in tourism activities each year? With the help of this insightful data story, find out where you can access the wealth of data and information that the EU institutions and Member States have produced about tourism in the EU, in particular official statistics from Eurostat. Keen to build on your understanding of other topics with the help of high-value datasets? Take a look at the other data stories available on data.europa.eu!

Available in English 📖


Also out recently

Defending democracy in Europe: Addressing the threat of authoritarian populism and reinforcing democratic practice

The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies recently released a statement analysing the risks that the rise of populism poses to democracy. In this publication, read about the group’s recommendations on how to safeguard and strengthen democracy in Europe.

Available in English 📖

Fundamental rights report 2024

From democracy and equality to dignity and justice, this report presents the latest developments concerning fundamental rights in the EU. Read about how the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is being implemented across the Member States and check out the recommendations from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights about how to build a more inclusive Europe.

Available in English 📖

Visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg

No summer plans yet? Why not take a trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to visit the new Parlamentarium Simone Veil exhibition? Visitors will have the opportunity to gain insights into the role of the Parliament and the duties of its members and to learn more about the European decision-making process. The tour is available for both individual visitors and groups in all 24 official languages of the EU. Booking is not required!

Available in English, French and German 📖


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Statistical literacy newsletter

Are you keen on improving your understanding of how to interpret and use statistics? If so, why not subscribe to Eurostat’s Statistical literacy newsletter? The newsletter includes highlights of the latest happenings in the world of statistics and will help you get familiar with the EU and its Member States through the world of data.

For more details, have a look at the first edition!


Our news

New Interinstitutional Style Guide website: supporting clear, consistent and professional communication

Refine your writing with the Interinstitutional Style Guide, your companion for clear, consistent and professional communication!

Primarily designed for authors, translators, and proofreaders of the EU institutions, it is available online for anyone, so you can use it for your own editorial work! If you are looking for official names of countries or currencies, or for the structure of an EU legal act, or if you are unsure of how to present citations, postal addresses, dates and times or abbreviations for words like ‘megawatt’, this guide is for you! We have just further upgraded it to serve users’ needs even better. In addition to its mobile-friendly, accessible, and intuitive design, the site now includes new features, such as a bilingual view, an always-up-to-date PDF version and the possibility to save personal bookmarks or to set alerts for updates.

Check out the website and streamline your writing with this indispensable reference tool!


Find all the EU information you can trust - EU law, data, publications and more - on op.europa.eu.


Glen Campbell

Communication, outreach and onboarding for op.europa.eu, raising awareness of the #disinformation war we are in. Promoting #EUOpenDataDays2025.

1mo

Really nice collection of #GoodReads here and on making the most of travelling in Europe! Joanna Plucinska Milo Boyd Thomas Doustaly Portia J. Cyann Fielding Ceylan Yeginsu Attila Benedek Tourism Management Travel & Tourism Which?

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