Spain offers experience to Commissioner Tzitzikostas for future EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy

International

Minister Jordi Hereu presents Spain Tourism 2030 Strategy as model for European framework

Spain has presented its national tourism roadmap to European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, positioning its Spain Tourism 2030 Strategy as a reference point for the future EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy currently under development.

Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu and Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez met the Commissioner in Brussels to share Spain’s experience as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Spain ranks second globally in both international tourist arrivals and tourism expenditure, while also advancing in innovation, modernisation and digitalisation of the sector.

Spain Tourism 2030 as a European reference

During the meeting, Minister Hereu outlined Spain’s comprehensive approach to making tourism more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The transversal roadmap, built on broad consensus, was received positively by Commissioner Tzitzikostas, who expressed his intention to consider it as a model and to cooperate closely with the Spanish government in shaping the European strategy.

“Spain has taken a courageous, rigorous and consensual step to address the challenges facing tourism in the coming years, accompanying the sector’s transformation with a reliable and forward-looking roadmap,” said Hereu. “This roadmap should now be taken into account by the European Commission in order to align strategies and ensure that growth translates into shared prosperity for all actors in the tourism value chain.”

The Spanish government aims for its high level of consensus and pioneering vision of higher-quality tourism to serve as an example at European level. The strategy recognises tourism as a key economic driver, capable of redistributing wealth and stimulating related sectors.

Alignment on sustainability and residents’ priorities

Spain is also advocating for alignment between the national and European strategies in prioritising residents in tourism destinations, ensuring that tourism acts as an integrating and cohesive force within society. The approach emphasises environmental responsibility, integration into climate action efforts, waste reduction across the tourism industry and the decarbonisation of transport.

Spain’s experience in digital transformation, innovation and social, economic and environmental sustainability is seen as fundamental to achieving these objectives and is reflected in the national strategy.

During the discussions, Hereu and Sánchez reaffirmed Spain’s support for the development of the European strategy, particularly regarding its social, environmental and economic sustainability pillars. Spain also formally offered to host the headquarters of the future European Tourism Academy.

Intensive agenda in Brussels

The meeting with Commissioner Tzitzikostas concluded a two-day working visit in Brussels. During this visit, Rosario Sánchez presented Spain’s tourism strategy at the European Parliament and held bilateral meetings with European Parliament Vice-President Younous Omarjee and MEP Daniel Attard, a member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and signatory of the parliamentary report on the future European tourism strategy.

These meetings aimed to highlight Spain’s progress in implementing its tourism roadmap and to influence the European strategy from both governmental and parliamentary perspectives, aligning national and EU-level objectives.

In addition, the Secretary of State met with the CEO and Executive Director of the European Travel Commission, the association representing European National Tourism Organisations and coordinating the promotion of Europe as a destination, as well as market intelligence and cooperation among member countries.