European Travel Commission CEO: 'Climate change is the biggest threat to tourism right now'
While Europe remains the world’s tourism playground, Eduardo Santander of the European Travel Commission told Euronews that the continent needs to coordinate better to tackle climate challenges and congestion.
Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission (ETC), spoke at the Euronews Travel & Tourism Summit in Brussels, stating that tourism management must support local communities while adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. He described Europe as becoming a "museum or attraction park" for global travelers, emphasizing that well-organized and managed parks can be perfect destinations.
Spain, ranking third in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index, accounts for 10% of Europe's economy, with some markets seeing tourism contribute up to 20% of their GDP. Santander highlighted that heavy investment in tourism infrastructures, including accommodation and transport, is necessary as the continent seeks to boost productivity in sectors such as chemicals and automotive.
He emphasized that congestion, rather than overtourism itself, is the more pressing challenge, ranging from services at airports to ground transportation and bottlenecks at popular attractions. Climate change, Santander said, is the biggest threat to tourism, pointing to instances where heat-expanded rails impeded train services and dry conditions hindered cruise lines on European rivers.
He noted the rise of "coolcations" as travelers seek cooler destinations amid scorching heat waves, such as the summer of 2026. Santander stressed the need for greater resilience in European tourism, calling for a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to prepare for future challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
