This week, EFFAT took part in the Strategic Dialogue on Tourism with Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, responsible for transport and tourism. The dialogue was organised in conjunction with the European Tourism Forum.
During the event, the European Commission announced its intention to publish the first-ever EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy in the spring. Key stakeholders from across the tourism ecosystem, including tourism businesses, destinations and social partners, were invited to share their views on how to ensure a successful transition towards a greener, more digitally resilient and more competitive tourism sector.
EFFAT used this opportunity to strongly advocate for a tourism strategy with a robust social dimension, placing working people at the heart of the transition.
Tourism: a pillar of the EU economy and employment
Tourism is a cornerstone of the European economy, accounting for around 10% of EU GDP. The sector sustains employment for more than 10 million people, including many young workers, migrant workers and women.
As such, tourism has a crucial role to play from both an economic and social perspective. However, despite its central importance, EFFAT underlined that the sector’s full potential remains largely untapped.
One of the main reasons is that too many tourism workers continue to face precarious employment, low wages and limited career prospects. These poor working conditions push workers out of the sector, leading to labour shortages, staff turnover rates of up to 50%, and an inevitable decline in service quality. Ultimately, this situation weakens the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism businesses.
EFFAT stressed that that there is no magic formula to address these challenges. A resilient and competitive tourism industry requires sustained investment in sustainability, quality jobs and strong collective bargaining. Decent working conditions are a prerequisite for a high-quality tourism sector, as precarious employment and poverty wages are incompatible with motivated workers and quality services. Tourism workers must benefit from trust, support and genuine recognition from their employers.
EFFAT also underlined that the upcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy must address fair competition within the sector, particularly between short-term rental platforms and traditional accommodation providers. Ensuring real and equal treatment for workers across all forms of accommodation is essential for social fairness and for maintaining a level playing field for businesses.
EFFAT remains firmly committed to securing a European Tourism Strategy that genuinely reflects the concerns and needs of workers, who are the true backbone of the tourism sector. These priorities are clearly outlined in EFFAT’s position on tourism.
