EU Launches €2.9 Billion Strategy to Promote Cleaner and Smarter Tourism

On March 5, 2026, the European Union announced a €2.9 billion strategy aimed at transforming tourism across Europe, with Germany joining Spain, Italy, and France in supporting initiatives designed to promote cleaner and more sustainable travel. The strategy focuses on improving connectivity between different transport systems while reducing the environmental footprint associated with tourism across the region.

The initiative prioritizes the development of integrated transport networks, allowing travellers to move more efficiently between rail, aviation, maritime, and local mobility systems. EU officials say that improved intermodal connectivity can help reduce emissions by encouraging travellers to choose lower-carbon transport options, including rail and cleaner fuel technologies.

According to EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the funding will support projects that strengthen infrastructure and promote the adoption of renewable and low-carbon fuels in aviation and maritime transport. The initiative forms part of a broader EU effort to balance tourism growth with environmental protection while maintaining the sector’s competitiveness.

Officials also highlighted that sustainable tourism policies will play an increasingly important role in addressing challenges such as climate change and overtourism, which can strain local infrastructure and natural ecosystems. By investing in greener mobility and smarter travel systems, the EU aims to position Europe as a global leader in responsible and environmentally sustainable tourism development in the coming years.

€2.9 billion for sustainable tourism reshapes what tourism operators, destination-management organisations and hospitality investors should be planning around, and the disclosure and certification bar is rising with the funding. Our impact-assessment and nature-based-solutions teams help clients evaluate what these funding pathways mean for sustainable-tourism investment and impact-linked disclosure narratives.