Skip to main content
European Union flag
EU Tourism Platform

Exploring Europe Anew: EU Set to Boost Underappreciated Destinations

News

27 April 2026

Exploring Europe Anew: EU Set to Boost Underappreciated Destinations

Adventure tourism

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

Cultural tourism

+44 more

Login / create an account to be able to react

lake-in-the-middle-of-mountains-during-daytime

In an effort to encourage sustainable tourism, the EU is poised to enhance connectivity and promote hidden gems, injecting new energy into lesser-known destinations across Europe.

Publishing org

European Parliament

Related Organisation(s)

European Parliament

Topics
Geographical descriptors

Albania

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Türkiye

Ukraine

Other

Organisation Type

Academic / Research and VET Institutions

Business Support Organisation

Company with 250 or more employees

Cluster Organisations

Consumer Organisations

Cultural and Heritage Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

EU Institutions

Financial Institutions and Investors

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

International Organisations

Local Authorities

Media / Journalist Organisations

National authorities

Networks and Federations / Confederations

NGOs / Non-profits

Notified Bodies

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

Social Economy Entity

Trade Unions

Other

  • Specific types of tourism

    • Adventure tourism

    • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

    • Cultural tourism

    • Ecotourism

    • Education tourism

    • Festival tourism

    • Gastronomy tourism

    • Health and medical tourism

    • MICE tourism

    • Mountain tourism

    • Religious tourism

    • Rural tourism

    • Sports tourism

    • Urban/city tourism

    • Wellness tourism

  • Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

    • Changes in tourism demand and opportunities

    • Coordinated information on travelling

    • Cross-border travelling

    • Governance of tourism destinations

    • Sustainable mobility

    • Tourism strategies

  • Business activities

    • Activities of amusement parks and theme parks

    • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

    • Air passenger transport

    • Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks

    • Events catering and other food services

    • Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities

    • Gardens and nature reserves activities

    • Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation

    • Hotel and similar accommodation

    • Mobile beverage services

    • Mobile food services

    • Museums

    • Operation of historical sites

    • Other

    • Other accommodation

    • Other amusement and recreation activities

    • Other food and beverage services

    • Other holiday reservation services

    • Other tourism transportation activities

    • Rail Passenger transport

    • Recreational and sport activities

    • Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)

    • Road passenger transport

    • Tour operator activities

    • Travel agency activities

    • Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport

Share

As the EU edges towards a greener and more balanced tourism strategy, discussions in parliament focus on redirecting tourists from overcrowded hotspots to emerging areas such as rural landscapes and remote regions. MEPs will cast their votes on Tuesday, April 28, on the draft resolution aimed at improving travel connectivity, preserving cultural heritage, and boosting local economies.

The initiative seeks practical improvements, including enhanced transport links, support for electric vehicles, and the expansion of cross-border night trains. This approach hopes to alleviate the strain experienced by popular destinations while distributing economic benefits more equitably throughout the continent. With tourism employing around 12.3 million people and accounting for 10.5% of the EU’s GDP, these measures are crucial for balancing growth and sustainability in one of the world’s most visited regions.

For more details, follow this link: More Sustainable Tourism in the EU.

#Sustainable tourism planning #Sustainable destinations #Responsible travel #Green transportation options #Cultural preservation

Rating
No votes yet

Comments (0)

Related content

See also

-
Comment
1
  • News
  • 26 Jan 2026

Celebrate European Tourism Day: Explore Europe Live!

Don't miss the chance to explore the beauty and diversity of Europe! Tune in today for the European Tourism Day livestream, where industry experts and...
Categories
Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism Cultural tourism Ecotourism +64 more