How Has EU Impacted Tourism?

By Alice Nichols

The European Union (EU) has had a significant impact on the tourism industry, both positively and negatively. The EU is a political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe. Its aim is to promote regional cooperation and economic integration, which has had an effect on the tourism industry due to free movement of goods, services, capital, and people across borders within the EU.

Positive Impacts of EU on Tourism:

  • The establishment of the European Commission, which oversees tourism policies across all member states. This has led to greater consistency in regulations and standards for tourism businesses across Europe.
  • Introduction of the Schengen Area agreement, which allows for free movement of people across borders within the EU without the need for visas or passport checks. This has made travel within Europe easier and more affordable for tourists.
  • The adoption of the Euro as a common currency in many member states reduces currency exchange costs for tourists traveling within Europe.
  • The EU’s investment in infrastructure development such as airports, rail networks, and highways has made travel within Europe faster and more convenient.

Negative impacts of EU on Tourism:

  • Stricter border controls following terrorist attacks have led to longer wait times at airports and increased security measures that can be inconvenient for tourists.
  • Tighter regulation on package holidays by the European Commission has led to increased costs for tour operators who pass these costs onto consumers.
  • The introduction of VAT (value-added tax) on tourism services across many member states has increased prices for tourists.

Conclusion:

Overall, it is clear that the EU has had both positive and negative impacts on the tourism industry. While it has made travel within Europe easier and more affordable, it has also introduced some challenges such as increased security measures and higher costs for tourists. However, with the EU continuing to invest in infrastructure development and promote regional cooperation, the future of tourism in Europe looks promising.