european travel commission wikipedia

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The European Travel Commission (ETC) provides travelers with everything they need to create trips that are remembered forever. Europe’s allure is endless. Our insatiable passion for the continent and its timeless, various cultures helps us inspire our visitors’ boundless desire to discover a Europe without borders.

What is the European Travel Commission?

ETC is the non-profit organisation responsible for the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination in long-haul markets. ETC’s mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination and to increase competitiveness, through knowledge gathering and sharing amongst members and lobbying, as well as by establishing a professional marketing platform for the successful promotion of member countries in overseas markets. Learn more at  www.etc-corporate.org .

Who are our Members?

Anto – austrian national tourist office.

Website: https://www.austria.info/en

Destination: Austria

Visit Flanders

Website: https://www.visitflanders.com/

Destination: Belgium

Wallonie Belgique Tourisme

Website: http://walloniabelgiumtourism.co.uk/

The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria

Website: http://www.bulgariatravel.org/

Destination: Bulgaria

Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB)

Website: http://croatia.hr/

Destination: Croatia

Republic of Cyprus, Deputy Ministry of Tourism

Website: http://www.visitcyprus.com/

Destination: Cyprus

Visit Czechia

Website: https://www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US

Destination: Czechia

VisitDenmark

Website: https://www.visitdenmark.com/

Destination: Denmark

Estonian Tourist Board - Enterprise Estonia

Website: http://www.visitestonia.com/

Destination: Estonia

Visit Finland - Business Finland Ltd.

Website: http://www.visitfinland.com/

Destination: Finland

Atout France

Website: https://www.france.fr/

Destination: France

German National Tourist Board (GNTB)

Website: http://www.germany.travel/

Destination: Germany

Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO)

Website: http://www.visitgreece.gr/

Destination: Greece

Hungarian Tourism Agency

Website: https://visithungary.com/

Destination: Hungary

Icelandic Tourist Board

Website: http://www.ferdamalastofa.is/

Destination: Iceland

Tourism Ireland Ltd.

Website: http://www.tourismireland.com/

Destination: Ireland

ENIT - Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo

Website: http://www.italia.it/

Destination: Italy

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)

Website: http://www.latvia.travel/

Destination: Latvia

Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania

Website: http://www.lithuania.travel/

Destination: Lithuania

Luxembourg For Tourism (LFT)

Website: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/

Destination: Luxembourg

Malta Tourism Authority (MTA)

Website: http://www.mta.com.mt/

Destination: Malta

Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Office

Website: https://www.visitmonaco.com/

Destination: Monaco

National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro

Website: https://www.montenegro.travel/en

Destination: Montenegro

NBTC Holland Marketing

Website: https://www.nbtc.nl/en/homepage.htm

Destination: Netherlands

Innovation Norway

Website: https://www.visitnorway.com/

Destination: Norway

Polish Tourism Organisation (PTO)

Website: https://www.poland.travel/en

Destination: Poland

Turismo de Portugal

Website: https://www.visitportugal.com

Destination: Portugal

Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism

Website: http://www.romania.travel/

Destination: Romania

State Office for Tourism

Website: http://www.visitsanmarino.com/

Destination: San Marino

National Tourism Organization of Serbia (NTOS)

Website: http://www.serbia.travel/

Destination: Serbia

Slovakia Travel

Website: https://slovakia.travel/en

Destination: Slovakia

Slovenian Tourist Board

Website: http://www.slovenia.info/

Destination: Slovenia

Turespaña - Instituto de Turismo

Website: https://www.spain.info/

Destination: Spain

Switzerland Tourism

Website: http://www.myswitzerland.com/

Destination: Switzerland

Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency

Website: https://goturkiye.com/

Destination: Türkİye

State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine SATD

Website: https://visitukraine.today/

Destination: Ukraine

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The History of the European Travel Commission 1948-2018

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• Tourism Arts & Humanities 100%
• History Arts & Humanities 72%
• Peace Arts & Humanities 20%
• Prosperity Arts & Humanities 17%
• Travellers Arts & Humanities 16%
• Tourists Arts & Humanities 16%
• Roads Arts & Humanities 14%
• Stakeholders Arts & Humanities 11%
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European Commission

• Role : Promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and the EU budget
• Members : A team or 'College' of Commissioners, 1 from each EU country
• President : Ursula von der Leyen
• Year established : 1958
• Location : Brussels (Belgium)
• Website :  European Commission

The European Commission is the EU's  politically independent executive arm . It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the  European Parliament  and the  Council of the EU .

What does the Commission do?

Proposes new laws.

The Commission is the sole EU institution tabling laws for adoption by the Parliament and the Council that:

• protect the interests of the EU and its citizens on issues that can't be dealt with effectively at national level
• get technical details right by consulting experts and the public

Manages EU policies & allocates EU funding

• sets EU spending priorities, together with the Council and Parliament
• draws up annual budgets for approval by the Parliament and Council
• supervises how the money is spent, under scrutiny by the  Court of Auditors

Enforces EU law

• together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied in all the member countries

Represents the EU internationally

• speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies, in particular in areas of trade policy and humanitarian aid
• negotiates international agreements for the EU

Composition

Political leadership  is provided by a team of  27 Commissioners  (one from each EU country) – led by the  Commission President , who decides who is responsible for which policy area.

The College of Commissioners is composed of the President of the Commission, eight Vice-Presidents, including three Executive Vice-Presidents, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and 18 Commissioners, each responsible for a portfolio.

The  day-to-day running  of Commission business is performed by its staff (lawyers, economists, etc.), organised into departments known as  Directorates-General (DGs) , each responsible for a  specific policy area .

Appointing the President

The candidate is put forward by national leaders in the European Council, taking account of the results of the European Parliament elections. He or she needs the support of a majority of members of the European Parliament in order to be elected.

Selecting the team

The Presidential candidate selects potential Vice-Presidents and Commissioners based on suggestions from the EU countries. The list of nominees has to be approved by national leaders in the European Council.

Each nominee appears before the European Parliament to explain their vision and answer questions. Parliament then votes on whether to accept the nominees as a team. Finally, they are appointed by the European Council, by a qualified majority.

The current Commission's term of office runs until 31 October 2024.

How does the Commission work?

Strategic planning.

The President defines the policy direction for the Commission, which enables the Commissioners together to decide strategic objectives, and produce the  annual work programme .

Collective decision making

Decisions are taken based on collective responsibility. All Commissioners are equal in the decision-making process and equally accountable for these decisions. They do not have any individual decision-making powers, except when authorized in certain situations.

The Vice-Presidents act on behalf of the President and coordinate work in their area of responsibility, together with several Commissioners.  Priority projects  are defined to help ensure that the College works together in a close and flexible manner.

Commissioners support Vice-Presidents in submitting proposals to the College. In general, decisions are made by consensus, but votes can also take place. In this case, decisions are taken by simple majority, where every Commissioner has one vote.

The relevant  Directorate-General  (headed by a Director-General, answerable to the relevant Commissioner) then takes up the subject. This is usually done in the form of draft  legislative proposals .

These are then resubmitted to the Commissioners for adoption at their weekly meeting, after which they become official, and are sent to the Council and the Parliament for the next stage in the EU legislative process.

The European Commission and you

If you want to  give us your views  on EU policies or suggest changes or new policies, you have various options:

• send a response to a Commission  public consultation  on an issue that concerns you
• launch a  European Citizens' Initiative
• make a  formal complaint  if you think EU law is not being applied properly in your case

The Commission also provides  advice & information services  to help you with business, study, legal matters, and moving and working around Europe.

For any  questions  you have about our work:

• contact Commission staff  (in Brussels, etc.)
• contact a local Commission office  in your country

Access to documents

Access to information

Commission President calendar

Commissioners' calendar

Further information

Audiovisual material

Publications

European Commission Library and e-Resources Centre (Find-eR)

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THE EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMMISSION (ETC)

The European Travel Commission (ETC) is the non-profit organisation responsible for the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination in third markets. Its 33 member National Tourism Organisations work together to build the value of tourism to all the beautiful and diverse countries of Europe through, in particular, cooperating in areas of sharing best practices, market intelligence and promotion.

The main objectives of the European Travel Commission are to:

• Promote Europe as an attractive tourist destination.
• Assist member NTOs to exchange knowledge and work collaboratively.
• Provide industry partners and other interested parties with easy access to material & statistics regarding inbound tourism to Europe.
• Austria National Tourist Office (ANTOI), Austria
• Wallonie-Bruxelles Tourism (WBT), Belgium and Toerisme Vlaanderen (TV), The Tourist Office for Flanders, Belgium
• Ministry of Tourism, Bulgaria
• Croatia National Tourist Board (CNTB)
• Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), Cyprus
• Czech Tourism, Czech Republic
• VisitDenmark, Denmark
• Estonia Tourist Board- Enterprise Estonia, Estonia
• Visit Finland- Finpro ry, Finland
• German National Tourist Board (GNTB), Germany
• Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO), Greece
• Hungarian Tourism Ltd., Hungary
• Icelandic Tourist Board, Iceland
• Failte Ireland, Ireland and Tourism Ireland Ltd., Ireland
• Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo (ENIT), Italy
• Latvia Tourism Development Agency (TAVA), Latvia
• Lithuanian State Department of Tourism, Lithuania
• Luxembourg National Tourist Office (ONT)
• Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Malta
• Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Office, Monaco
• National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro, Montenegro
• Innovation Norway, Norway
• Polish Tourist Organisation (PTO), Poland
• Turismo de Portugal I.P., Portugal
• National Authority for Tourism, Romania
• State Office for Tourism, San Marino
• National Tourism Organisation of Serbia (NTOS), Serbia
• Slovak Tourist Board, Slovakia
• Slovenia Tourist Board (SPIRIT), Slovenia
• Turespana-Instituto de Turismo, Spain
• VisitSweden, Sweden
• Switzerland Tourism, Switzerland
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey
• Public relations
• Consumer advertising in selected overseas markets
• Trade Promotions
• Market Research
• Professional development for members (seminars, information exchange)
• Liaison with other relevant agencies (e.g; the European Commission's Tourism Unit (DG Enterprise), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation & Development (OECD)

These activities are financed entirely by Members' contributions, calculated according to a set of pre-agreed criteria. Additional financial support for specific campaigns is raised in source markets from industry partners.

• European Commission : ETC collaborates with the Tourism Unit (Enterprise Directorate) and other Directorates in the context of the Destination 2020 initiative. Destination 2020 aims to promote Europe as a tourist destination and strengthen its competitive image in long-haul markets. The initative is designed to involve the entire tourism industry in defining a long-term strategy for Destination Europe.
• World Tourism Organization (UNTWO ): ETC is an affiliate member of UNWTO and the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2012, by which both parts agree to cooperate and implement joint activities in issues related to tourism and beyond with the aim to enhance the role of the tourism sector in general. Moreover, part of the Research program of ETC has been implemented in cooperation with UNWTO for the last ten years.
• European Tourism Association (ETOA): ETC and the European Tourism Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2009, and agreed on the common interest in promoting the value and quality of tourism to Europe, the carrying out of studies and surveys, and improving the efficiency of marketing activities.
• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): The WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries, and therefore represents a natural partner for ETC in its mission to raise awareness and understanding among national European authorities and the general public of the importance of tourism and the need to ensure its development.
• Foundation for European Sustainable Tourism (FEST): ETC and FEST came together to collaborate towards sustainability in tourism and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2014. The cooperation established guidelines concerning the promotion, dissemination and the application of the PM4SD in order to support destinations increasing their sustainable growth, disseminate a standard qualification in tourism management and increase mobility opportunities for tourism project managers.
• Airports Council International (ACI) Europe : ACI Europe is the European region of Airports Council International and represents over 460 airports in 45 European countries, handling over 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe. ETC and ACI Europe signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2015 by the force of which the two organisations will pursue policy alignment in order to face challenges related to enhancing the connectivity of European airports and thus facilitating an increase of tourism arrivals in Europe. Matters subject to cooperation include passenger facilitation, airport connectivity, airport capacity, intermodality and access to airports and promoting European destinations.

European Travel Commission

The European Travel Commission ( ETC ) is an association of national tourism organisations (NTOs) based in Brussels . It was created in 1948 to promote Europe as a tourist destination to long-haul markets outside of Europe, initially the US and later Canada , Latin America and Asia-Pacific . ETC currently has 35 member NTOs and 12 associate members from the private industry. The association aims to raise awareness of the importance of tourism among national European authorities and the general public through sharing best practices and cooperation in market intelligence and promotion.

1948–1952: early years of ETC

1950s–1960s: joint publicity campaigns in the united states, facilitating travel, etc and eastern europe during the cold war, 1970s–1980s: from transatlantic to global player, 1990s–2000s: etc in europe after the cold war, 2000s–2020s, current activities, organisational aims and structure, general meeting and board of directors, executive unit, the marketing group and the market intelligence group, overseas chapters.

ETC membership comprises 35 National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) from 34 European countries, 8 of which are from outside the EU . ETC member countries are: Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Croatia , Cyprus , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Latvia , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Monaco , Montenegro , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , San Marino , Serbia , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Switzerland and Ukraine .

In 2015, ETC launched an associate membership programme extending membership to private organisations and academia to seek cooperation, and support in strengthening the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination. As of 2023, ETC has 12 associate members: Airbnb , CrowdRiff Inc., Emirates Airline Company/ Emirates Group , Eurail Group G.I.E., Expedia Inc., Global Blue S.A., HiSeas International, Sojern Ltd, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Google , The Bicester Collection, and MMGY Global.

ETC was established in Stalheim , Norway, during an excursion of the 1948 Congress of the International Union of Official Travel Organizations (IUOTO). ETC became IUOTO's regional commission for Europe in line with the latter's aim “to promote, in a technical and entirely non-political manner, freedom of travel, so as to strengthen peace and mutual understanding between the nations of the world.” [1]

Committed to the freedom of travel and private enterprise, ETC did not escape the reality of the early Cold War and cultivated strong ties with the Western camp. The 17 original member countries were recipients of aid from the Marshall Plan , and in July 1948 ETC formalised its relationship with the Organization for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) to supply the OEEC with expert knowledge on tourism matters. Recognising the importance of tourism for the economic reconstruction of Europe, the OEEC Executive Committee established a Tourism Committee in February 1949. [2]

Under OEEC oversight, joint publicity campaigns in the US turned into the flagship activity of ETC. The first campaign took place from August to December 1949. [3] The campaigns promoted Europe as one destination in the American market and encouraged off-season travel. [4] The campaigns were realized by the ETC's New York Committee working closely with marketing firms (e.g. Donald N. Martin & Company, Inc.) and private partners in the transportation, travel, and energy industries. [5] Additionally, ETC participated in travel fairs; published brochures and calendars of events; produced radio broadcasts, television advertising and short films, along with published advertisements in newspapers and magazines. [6]

In May 1954, an ETC delegation met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower . [7] ETC praised Eisenhower for his strong support for international travel by Americans in the interest of rebuilding the European economies. [8] However, concerns in the American administration over the deficit in the country's balance of payments prompted the Kennedy administration to create the United States Travel Service in June 1961 to motivate foreign nationals to visit the US. At around the same time the reorganisation of the OEEC into the OECD ended its involvement in the publicity campaigns, which continued under the aegis of ETC alone from 1964. ETC continued to defend the freedom to travel when President Lyndon B. Johnson ’s 1968 State of the Union address asked Americans to reduce non-essential travel. [9] In response ETC published a Declaration on the Freedom to Travel in February 1968 that identified the freedom to travel as a fundamental human right, to be enjoyed without restriction or discrimination. [10]

ETC also sought to facilitate travel and border crossings through abolishing visa requirements to travel to Europe and between European countries and by alleviating currency regulations, travel taxes, and customs formalities. [11] By the mid-1950s, North American and Western European tourists could travel through Western Europe without major administrative formalities. Following the 1963 United Nations Conference on International Travel and Tourism, ETC pushed for discussions on the recommendations of the conference to remove obstacles (visas, customs rules, border-crossing requirements) and streamline tourism regulations, implementing those regulations within the IUOTO and the OECD Tourism Committee.

In 1951, ETC welcomed Finland , Spain , and Yugoslavia to its membership. [12] This decision was undoubtedly related to Cold War imperatives, and in the context of the rift caused by the 1948 Tito–Stalin split , Yugoslavia's membership of ETC was a steppingstone for the country's tourism policy, which aimed to attract more Western tourists. While Yugoslavia was the only socialist country to join the organisation, ETC initially viewed the application for membership from the Soviet Union and Poland after joining IUOTO in 1955 positively for their potential impact on the development of tourism before deciding their membership could be detrimental. Instead IUOTO created a Regional Commission for European Travel composed of national tourism boards from both Western and Eastern Europe while the joint publicity campaigns in the US continued under a separate organisation that kept the already well-known name of the “European Travel Commission. [13]

In the early 1970s ETC obtained a presidency supported by vice presidents and permanent secretariat at the same time Malta (1971) and Cyprus (1973) became member countries. ETC added the preservation of cultural heritage to its mission in collaboration with Europa Nostra , a pan-European federation for cultural heritage. [14] During the 1970s ETC capitalised on new technological opportunities from transportation to ICT technologies and facilitated the exchange of information and experiences among its members on these subjects. The creation of Operation Groups in Japan , Argentina , Canada , and Australia in the 1970s, and the ETC’s increasing interest in Southeast Asian markets in the 1980s expanded ETC’s geographic scope. [15]

The 1970s also signalled the beginning of a long-standing collaboration with the European Economic Community (EEC). In the 1980s, the EEC engaged more directly with tourism and ETC with research initiatives and grant support. The European Parliament identified, for instance, “ETC as best placed for the coordination of overseas promotion of tourism to the EEC.” [16] In 1981, ETC also co-founded the European Tourism Action Group, a group of associations advocating for the importance of Europe as a tourist destination.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the transformation of the European Economic Community (EEC) into the European Union in 1993 with the Treaty of Maastricht entailed a significant expansion of ETC's membership starting with Hungary in 1990, and a consolidation of the relationship with European institutions. Throughout the 1990s, ETC sought to give tourism broader recognition on the EU level. When the Treaty of Lisbon took effect in 2009, tourism was added as a policy domain in which the EU could intervene through article 195 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union . Meanwhile, ETC continued its research agenda in collaborations with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Tourism Association (ETOA). It increasingly paid attention to travel-related computer technologies and online marketing strategies. ETC launched its first website in January 1996, which was fully revamped in 2006 with the help of European Commission funds. [17] The VisitEurope.com website is currently ETC's main platform for the promotion of Destination Europe.

Between 2015 and May 2023, ETC held the Chairmanship and Secretariat of the European Tourism Manifesto, an alliance supported by over 50 public and private stakeholders from the tourism sector that highlights the key EU policy priorities for the sector on topics ranging from skills and qualifications to sustainability and competitiveness of Europe's tourism.

In 2017, ETC was designated as the official strategic partner of the European Commission for the implementation of the promotional activities in the framework of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year.

In 2019, ETC launched a new marketing strategy, Horizon 2022, moving from a traditional geographic segmentation to a cross-market thematic promotional approach. Instead of presenting Europe as a sum of destinations, the new strategy promotes the continent as a sum of experiences and interests in multiple destinations around the continent.

The promotion of Europe as a tourist destination continues to be the ETC's flagship activity. In 2019, ETC launched a new marketing strategy, Horizon 2022, moving from a traditional geographic segmentation to a cross-market thematic promotional approach. Instead of presenting Europe as a sum of destinations, the new strategy promotes the continent as a sum of experiences and interests in multiple destinations around the continent.

Market intelligence underpins ETC's marketing strategies and services. ETC's analysis of tourism market trends and relevant outbound markets aim to help the organisation and its members to understand the business environment, detect growth opportunities and formulate suitable promotional strategies. In research ETC collaborates with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), European Tourism Association (ETOA), Eurail Group G.I.E, International Air Transport Association (IATA), TourMIS, Tourism Economics, STR, ForwardKeys, Amadeus, and others.

ETC continues to be an advocate for the freedom to travel and for the recognition of tourism as an essential sector of the economy. Sustainability, visa facilitation and connectivity currently constitute the triple focus of ETC's advocacy work.

ETC and the European Commission have established a long-term strategic partnership in promoting Destination Europe. In 2011, ETC and the European Commission agreed to work jointly to maintain Europe's position as the world's leading tourist destination by promoting the Destination Europe brand and supporting the sustainable competitive development of the sector. Since 2012, the European Commission has entrusted ETC with yearly ad hoc grants for the implementation of a programme of promotional actions aimed at bringing new visitors from targeted third countries to Europe. In 2017, ETC was designated as the official strategic partner of the European Commission for the implementation of the promotional activities in the framework of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year. Additionally, ETC collaborates with other EU institutions such as the European Parliament in its efforts to further advance tourism policies at EU level.

There are two other relevant activities that ETC is currently implementing: the Climate Action Plan and the Rail Tourism Awards.

Climate Action Plan

ETC has launched its Climate Action Plan with the aim of addressing the urgency of climate action, halving emissions generated by ETC’s operations, as well as supporting engagement in climate action among its member National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), and leading the way for tourism stakeholders in Europe.

As a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism since 2022, ETC is also committed to building a consistent carbon reduction strategy and amplifying climate action by actively supporting ETC member National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) to commit to Net Zero.

Rail Tourism Awards

Since 2021, ETC has been partnering up with Eurail to organise the yearly competition to award marketing campaigns which promote train travel as a sustainable tourism model across Europe.

The European Travel Commission is registered in Belgium as a non-profit international association. Its financial resources come from membership contributions. During past years, ETC was awarded EU funding on an ad hoc basis for the promotion of Destination Europe. ETC currently focuses its activities in the following areas:

• Marketing : ETC promotes Europe as a tourist destination in key third visitor markets on behalf of its member organisations. It undertakes regional trade and global consumer marketing campaigns to promote Destination Europe in key overseas markets.
• Research : ETC analyses tourism market trends to identify fast-growing outbound markets. ETC research activities aim to deliver the intelligence support necessary to keep a competitive edge in the global tourism market, detecting new growth opportunities and formulating suitable promotional strategies.
• Advocacy : In close collaboration with the travel industry, ETC raises awareness among public authorities and the wider public across Europe of the economic and broader importance of tourism.

ETC activities are implemented by the Executive Unit based in Brussels under the guidance of the Board of Directors, and with the support of a number of expert groups: the Market Intelligence Group, the Marketing Group, and the Overseas Chapters.

ETC organises a General Meeting twice a year to decide on the budget and the programme of work. The Board of Directors is the ETC's steering committee and consists of the President, up to three Vice-Presidents, the permanent members and maximum 7 non-permanent members. The permanent members are Austria , Belgium , France , Germany , Italy , and Spain . Non-permanent members rotate every 2 years and come from one of each of the 7 geographic groups. In 2017, the CEO of Visit Flanders (Belgium), Peter De Wilde, was re-elected as the ETC President for his 2nd term and was followed by the Presidency of Luís Araújo from Turismo de Portugal. In May 2023, Miguel Sanz, Director General of Tourspain, has been elected as the President of ETC for a 3 year term.

The Executive Unit administers the organisation from its headquarters in Brussels under the leadership of the Executive Director. In 2012, Eduardo Santander was appointed as the Executive Director of ETC.

The Marketing Group is the ETC's think tank for all issues related to the promotion of Europe as a destination and a platform for sharing information and best practices. The Market Intelligence Group consists of the research directors of the member NTOs and is responsible for the ETC's research programme.

ETC has set up Overseas Chapters in its key markets. The first Overseas Chapter (previously called Operations Group) was set up, and continues to exist, in New York. The US Chapter also served the Canadian market until a separate chapter was set up in 1978. Other Overseas Chapters are currently active in Brazil, China, Australia and Japan. Each chapter is responsible for a joint programme of activities for the promotion of Destination Europe in their respective markets.

• Association of Special Fares Agents
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The story of the von der Leyen Commission

Keeping our promise to Europe

When the von der Leyen Commission took office in December 2019, we made a pledge to Europe: we promised to be bold and ambitious. We vowed to meet the aspirations of EU citizens and to address challenges as they emerged. Since then, this Commission has worked tirelessly to deliver on the job with which the European people entrusted it.

And we kept our promise. We stayed the course on the six priorities we set out at the beginning of the mandate, while finding solutions to some of the greatest tests that Europe has ever faced.

From tackling a global pandemic to dealing with climate change’s extreme weather events, from responding to Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine to managing the worst energy crisis in decades, we rolled up our sleeves and tackled extraordinary challenges head-on. Despite the pressures of multiple crises of the present, this Commission has managed to look ahead and address crucial challenges of future generations of Europeans. We have shown that our Union is at its best when we are bold.

This is the story of the von der Leyen Commission. 

Managing crises head-on

Protecting lives, livelihoods and Europe's economy

When the world was hit by the worst pandemic of our generation, the Commission took up the charge to protect lives, livelihoods and our economy.

We helped research and roll out life-saving vaccines in record time. We made sure that all Europeans got access to vaccines at the same time, no matter which Member State they lived in. We secured up to 4.6 billion vaccine doses, on behalf of Member States, to protect Europeans and to share with partner countries. Over 80% of the EU adult population has received at least the first vaccination course.

As vaccination allowed countries to open their borders cautiously, we developed practical tools to enable Europeans to travel safely. We set up the EU Digital COVID Certificate, connecting 78 countries and territories. This has now become the model for a global system to facilitate mobility and protect citizens across the world from pandemics.

As the lockdowns threatened to shut down companies and wipe out jobs, we developed an instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE). In 2020, it kept 2.5 million companies open and 31.5 million Europeans employed, avoiding a massive economic and social crisis. And when borders were closed and goods got stuck on the road, we launched Green Lanes to facilitate circulation and prevent shortages of basic goods.

Powering Europe’s recovery

Just as vaccines reached all Europeans at the same time, we worked to ensure that the economies of all Member States, especially those worst hit by the pandemic, could recover rapidly. At a time when we faced the deepest recession since World War II, we achieved the strongest recovery since the post-war boom. This recovery was possible because we developed a bold new plan, to raise money on the market and invest together in Europe’s recovery and resilience.

NextGenerationEU has been a boost of confidence for our economy. Worth more than €800 billion, it is propelling our economies with a combination of investment and reforms. Hundreds of projects funded by NextGenerationEU are already delivering tangible results for Europeans, from offshore wind farms to electric trains, from top-notch digital public services to world-class hospitals. In parallel, EU Member States are using NextGenerationEU strategically to carry out deep reforms, like labour market reforms, pension reforms, and accelerated permitting for renewables. This is our Union powering Europe’s prosperity. 

Standing with Ukraine, with unity, strength and resolve

As Russian tanks crossed the border, our Union stood up for Ukraine, with unity, strength and resolve. And the Commission, once more, rose to the occasion. We paved the way to hosting more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees in the EU. We organised the delivery of unprecedented humanitarian, financial and military assistance from the EU and Member States, reaching almost €98 billion so far, including €33.1 billion in military support. And we are working closely with our G7 partners to make sure every euro goes where it is most needed in Ukraine.

The dictator in the Kremlin has gambled on the disunity of Europeans. Together, we proved him wrong. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Through the new Ukraine Facility, we will deliver another €50 billion over the next four years, to help provide basic services – keep schools open, pay salaries and pensions, while Ukraine’s people continue to fight back against the invader. Every victory for Ukraine against the aggressor is also a victory for our common security in Europe.

At the same time, we have supported Ukraine every step of the way as it works hard to reform and get closer to the EU. Recognising the country's tremendous progress and responding to the aspirations of the Ukrainian people, our Union took the historic decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, based on the Commission’s recommendation.

We also helped tackle the impact of Russia’s aggression worldwide. As Russia’s war threatened to trigger a global food crisis, we came up with our trademark solutions to bring Ukraine’s crops to countries that needed them most. We opened Solidarity Lanes, which have helped export 122 million tonnes of Ukrainian goods, including nearly 64 million tonnes of agricultural products, mainly for export.

At the same time, we are at the forefront of efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions and pay for the destruction that it has caused. We have introduced 13 packages of sanctions to cripple Moscow's war machine. We have immobilised over €200 billion of Russian Central Bank assets in the EU. We are supporting the collection of evidence on Russia's war crimes and its crime of aggression. Because Europe stands up for international law.

Strengthening Europe’s resilience, security and defence capabilities

As the strategic environment around us has fundamentally changed, Europe needs to face up to a new responsibility. This is why this Commission has developed a new European Defence Industrial Strategy. It brings strategic focus and helps to tie together Member States’ and European firms’ efforts - from research to industrialisation and commercialisation of new systems, on to production ramp-up, coordinated procurement and security of supply. Because peace requires security.

Common solutions to the worst energy crisis in decades

While launching its assault on Ukraine, Russia used energy to blackmail us, triggering an energy crisis in Europe and the fear of blackouts. Once again, our Union pulled together. 

With the Commission’s groundbreaking REPowerEU plan, we secured our energy supplies and reduced our dependence on Russia. We diversified our supplies, by finding reliable new partners. We reduced our gas use by 18% - thanks to tremendous efforts by European people and companies. And we doubled down on the roll-out of renewables.

For the first time, we produced more electricity from wind in the EU than from gas last year. We have almost doubled the amount of solar energy produced in Europe. And installations of solar and wind energy have increased on an annual basis by around 35%.

To address the spike in energy prices caused by Russia’s blackmail, which caused hardship for our people and companies, we put in place an approach that had already proved successful during the pandemic.

We put in place the EU Energy Platform to pool demand for gas and launch competitive tenders, giving our companies a stronger bargaining position on global markets. And it works. In 2023, European buyers had access to 42 billion cubic metres of gas through the Platform. And the latest EU joint tender from February 2024 was three times oversubscribed attracting a total volume of 97.4 billion cubic metres from international suppliers.

Thanks to the combined actions that we took, today's prices are almost 10 times lower than they were at the height of the crisis. And Europe's dependence on fossil fuels from Russia is over, once and for all.

Boosting Europe’s capacity to provide vital support to countries hit by disaster

Throughout the mandate, the Commission has boosted Europe’s capacity to provide vital support to countries hit by disaster, from floods to forest fires, from earthquakes to medical emergencies.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has channelled support to all parts of the continent and beyond. Our teams were at work to rescue people and clear the rubble just hours after deadly earthquakes ravaged Albania, Croatia, and Türkiye. They were quick with support on the ground following devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.

Since 2019, we have provided over €3 billion through the EU Solidarity Fund to Member States and accession countries hit by natural disasters and public health emergencies.

Our firefighting fleet has helped battle wildfires from Greece to Portugal, from France to Albania. And across the Atlantic too. In a historic first, Canada turned to Europe for support when it was hit by the worst forest fires in recent times. And Europe answered the call. Hundreds of European firefighters combatted the violent fires which ravaged Canada’s forests.

But the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, as well as the pandemic, have shown that we need to do more to respond to disasters. This is why we created rescEU: a common reserve of European resources, including a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters, medical evacuation planes, and stockpiles of medical items. A real European safety net for emergencies.

When disaster strikes, our Union is now better equipped than ever to support Europeans – and the rest of the world. Since 2020, we have coordinated 232 Humanitarian Air Bridge operations, responding to 12 crises worldwide, most recently the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Keeping the course on our priorities

A growth strategy that protects the climate

Right at the start of our mandate, we rallied Europe around a common goal: to develop a new growth model, the European Green Deal, based on a clean and circular economy. We set ourselves targets to become climate neutral by 2050. Because only what gets measured, gets done. With this compass, we pushed forward a clean transition that protects people and the planet, is economically sound and socially fair.

Our vision is clear: Europe should remain a prime destination for investments that bring stable, future-proof quality jobs, with a strong industrial base.

We put in place a framework to deliver a reduction of at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to 1990 by the end of this decade. We ramped up EU-level investments. Almost €400 billion of EU funds from NextGenerationEU and cohesion policy are funding climate-related projects. We set out a robust framework for sustainable finance and became the biggest issuer of green bonds worldwide. 

And we have shown that it is possible to decouple economic growth from emissions: since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 32,5%, and our economy has grown by close to 70%.

And we have fostered the development of innovative technologies that we need to reduce emissions. With the Net-Zero Industry Act, we will dramatically speed up permitting processes for clean tech manufacturing and we will support European businesses to deliver the transition while maintaining their competitive edge.

But the rest of the world needs to level up. To address carbon leakage, we put in place the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. This helps to make sure that emissions are reduced wherever they are produced, and the EU's climate objectives are not undermined.

From the beginning, we promised to Europeans to work on making the transition socially fair. We kept our promise. We set up the Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate Fund, to support those who are more vulnerable and face the biggest challenges to adapt.

Our Green Deal is delivering on its objectives - Europe is on track to achieve its climate targets. And we are turning the necessary decarbonisation of our industries into a growth opportunity.

Empowering citizens and businesses to benefit from new technologies

In the past years, Europe has achieved more for citizens and businesses in the digital space than ever before. 

We set a clear vision at the start of the mandate: ensure that our society benefits from technology and that innovation boosts our competitiveness, while minimising risks for citizens. 

We fulfilled our mandate. Across Europe, we have invested billions in the expansion of fibre optics and 5G. We have connected rural regions and equipped hundreds of thousands of workers with skills for the digital future. We delivered a human-centred vision of the digital space and consolidated our technological leadership. 

In 2019, none of the top eight supercomputers were European. Today, the EU is home to four of the most powerful computers in the world – based in Finland, Italy, Spain and Germany. 

At the same time, Europe has become the global pioneer of citizen's rights online. With the Digital Services Act, we set out the basic principles for all digital companies in Europe, as well as clear rights for users. We defined the special responsibilities of large internet platforms on the content they promote and propagate – to help tackle hate speech and disinformation, for instance, and to protect minors. And with the Digital Markets Act, we are ensuring that major digital companies play by fair rules and ensure transparency and legal certainty for EU businesses.

The same goes for Artificial Intelligence. With our innovation-friendly AI Act, the EU is the first and so far only continent to have a dedicated AI regulation in place, focused on high-risk uses. More than a rulebook, the AI Act is a springboard for our companies to lead the way in developing trustworthy AI.

We know that AI can boost the productivity of our companies tremendously. We are therefore helping them to integrate AI in their business processes. For instance, we are providing start-ups and SMEs with access to our world-class supercomputers, so that they can develop, train and test large AI models. 

At the same time, we have developed a secure way to tap into the economic potential of data. With the Data Act, we will incentivise the sharing of data by those who generate it and make our cloud markets more competitive – adding tens of billions of euros to our GDP by 2028. 

Europe’s Digital Decade delivers.

A hands-on approach to foster Europe’s industrial competitiveness

Europe’s industry is at the centre of our mission to deliver prosperity for our people. And it is key to our ambition to build a clean economy. To help our industry remain competitive globally during the transition, we developed a fast-track-approach to supporting key sectors, from chips to clean tech, from batteries to wind. This combines investment, skills, smart regulatory facilities and cooperation with partners.

We tested this approach with the European Chips Act, to boost the manufacturing of chips and support scale-up and innovation across the value chain. And it worked. The European Chips Act has already generated over €100 billion of planned investments along the entire value chain. And it is creating good jobs across Europe, from Magdeburg to Catania, from Dublin to Dresden, from Wrocław to Grenoble.

We are applying the same approach to make sure that the future of our clean tech industry is made in Europe. Our Net-Zero Industry Act will help the EU build a strong domestic manufacturing capacity. By 2030, at least 40% of our demand for net-zero technologies should be covered by European manufacturing capacity. Our strategic projects and valleys, permitting reforms and targeted procurement and auction rules, can help the EU to become a global frontrunner in the clean energy transition and to create green, quality jobs at home.

Similarly, we developed the Critical Raw Materials Act to secure access for our companies to essential materials, which are key to Europe’s competitiveness and economic security. Today, Europe sources the lion's share of its rare earths and other critical raw materials from China. Geopolitical tensions or events such as the pandemic could at any time trigger serious downstream production problems in Europe. This is why we developed the new "De-risk, not decouple" principle towards China, which is by now accepted by EU Member States and G7 partners. We are developing new projects in Europe, but also beneficial strategic partnerships with countries such as Australia, Chile and Canada, to secure and process critical raw materials and diversify the supply chains of European companies.

And to adapt to geopolitical realities, we developed our first-ever Economic Security Strategy, with concrete steps to increase our resilience and de-risk our economy. There too, our approach is pragmatic: promotion of Europe’s own capacities in key sectors, protection against dependencies and partnerships to advance shared interests. This is making Europe stronger and safer.

Competitiveness of social market economy built on skills and wellbeing of our workers

The competitiveness of our social market economy is built on our human capital – on the skills and the wellbeing of our workers. Since the beginning of the mandate, this has been at the core of our action.

We established the Pact for Skills, to give workers the training that they need to match business’ needs, and we backed it with €65 billion worth of investments in skills from the EU budget and NextGenerationEU. This is paramount for our people and for our companies, as two thirds of SMEs in Europe say they cannot find the talent that they need.

But our competitiveness is also built on working conditions that allow our workers to thrive and to focus on their job. The von der Leyen Commission promised and delivered: we now have an EU framework to improve the adequacy of minimum wages. Workers should earn wages that allow for a decent living wherever they work.

As new ways of work emerge, they also come with challenges, for instance in terms of access to labour rights and social protection. This is why we proposed rules to improve the working conditions in platform work – as we committed to at the start of this Commission’s mandate. In 2021, over 500 digital platforms were active in the EU offering work to over 28 million people – most of them are self-employed but others are in fact workers.

We also set out rules on pay transparency, to make the basic principle that equal work deserves equal pay a reality, no matter whether you are a woman or a man. And we introduced a Child Guarantee, so that families in need can afford childcare, and that mothers and fathers are able to both work and have a family. Europe needs all of its talent.

We also succeeded in pushing over the line a long-lasting goal: to bring more women in Europe’s corporate boardrooms. With the adoption of the ‘Women on boards’ Directive, which had been stuck for a decade, our Union has now in place a target of 40% of non-executive directors in listed companies to be women. This is good news for women, as it breaks the glass ceiling. And it is good news for our economy, as companies that embrace diversity are more successful.

During this mandate, the Commission also put forward novel initiatives against racism and anti-semitism, but also for LGBTIQ people, individuals with disabilities, and Roma. We worked for a better Union, where Europeans of all colours, faiths, ages, genders, and sexual orientations can thrive.

Common European approach to migration and asylum, based on solidarity, responsibility, and respect for human rights

Europe is a continent whose history has been shaped by many peoples. We will always stand by our obligations to provide safety to people who seek international protection, and we are proud to offer legal migration pathways that will also benefit European societies and economies.

However, in past crises, when unprecedented numbers of refugees and irregular migrants entered the EU, it became clear that Europe did not have the right tools to cope with the pressures.

At the start of this Commission’s mandate, we therefore committed to establish a common system to better manage migration in the EU. This is why we proposed a new Pact on Migration and Asylum.

After complex political and legal negotiations, Member States and the European Parliament reached an agreement on this comprehensive set of rules, giving Europe a fresh start, where for decades we have only seen blockage and stagnation.

With the new rules, we will better secure control of our external border. We are making asylum, return and border procedures quicker and more effective, with stricter time limits and more stringent rules to limit abusive or subsequent applications, with the necessary guarantees for individuals. Return decisions for those without a right to stay will be issued immediately.

And we have now clearer rules on the responsibility of Member States, with improved measures to limit secondary movements. Member States will support each other using a flexible but permanent solidarity mechanism. Each of them will be able to choose the type of solidarity that they wish to provide. Our Union is now better equipped to manage migration.

In parallel with developing more effective legislation, throughout this mandate, the Commission supported Member States to address immediate challenges – from increased arrivals in the Mediterranean to the instrumentalisation of migration by Belarus - with operational support and with assistance from EU agencies. And we built partnerships with third countries to fight smuggling and increase returns.

The comprehensive partnership that we signed with Tunisia, for instance, brings mutual benefits beyond migration – from energy and education to skills and security. This is the blueprint for other agreements to be signed with partner countries, to foster cooperation and improve migration management.

Prioritising the rule of law and giving a new push to European democracy

At the beginning of the mandate, the von der Leyen Commission committed to prioritise the rule of law and give a new push to European democracy. Many events within and outside our Union have proved us right: we cannot take democracy for granted. We have to fight for it every day anew. This Commission has developed legislation to defend and strengthen democracy, counter foreign interference, fight disinformation and protect the freedom and pluralism of the media, as well as the safety of journalists.

And we took unprecedented action to uphold the rule of law in all Member States. We put in place an annual Rule of Law Report, with tailored recommendations for each Member State to prevent breaches of the rule of law and to strengthen it further. When dialogue was not enough, we used all the tools at our disposal, including infringements or the Budget Conditionality Mechanism. This allows the suspension of payments from the EU budget in case the rule of law is not upheld in a Member State. At the Commission’s request, this provision was activated for Hungary.

We have addressed challenges to the rule of law firmly, to protect our European democracy and our free and open societies.

Working with friends and partners to solve global challenges

In recent years, the von der Leyen Commission has shown many times how tremendous challenges can be overcome when working with friends and partners. The EU's ability to form powerful alliances across the world has helped strengthen Europe’s role globally.

The first visit of the current College of Commissioners was to Africa. The work of the von der Leyen Commission has brought relations with the United States to new levels, through close cooperation in support of Ukraine, as well as on energy, climate action, trade and technology. It has also helped reset post-Brexit relations with the United Kingdom. We negotiated the Windsor Framework, which has put one of our most important relations in Europe back on a positive path.

And we developed a new generation of partnerships, with Global Gateway, Europe's largest global investment programme ever. Global Gateway, worth €300 billion, is our offer for quality investment and infrastructure projects that respect high environmental and social standards, and create jobs and growth locally.

Global Gateway is about developing win-win partnerships, taking into account our partners’ as well as the EU’s interests in a geopolitical perspective.

And it is already delivering. Over 200 flagship projects have been selected, with €66 billion in investment from strategic partnerships on raw materials with Namibia, Chile and Argentina, to collaboration on renewable hydrogen with Morocco and Egypt, or a digital submarine cable system, called Medusa, linking the EU with North African countries. Many more will come.

Implemented in a ‘Team Europe’ approach – EU institutions and EU Member States working together – Global Gateway not only supports the clean and digital transitions around the world, but also increases the EU’s clout on the world stage. 

Europe is consolidating its reputation as a reliable long-term partner, working for mutual benefits.

Working together as a Union

Every day since the start of the mandate, this Commission has worked to make Europe more united and stronger. At home, we have weathered together unprecedented crises.

On the world stage, our Team Europe approach has enabled the EU to be more strategic, assertive and united.

Throughout this mandate, we have seen the birth of a real geopolitical Union – supporting Ukraine, standing up to Russia’s aggression, promoting the rules-based order and investing in partnerships.

We promised to be bold and ambitious. We stayed the course and delivered.

Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic together and building a Health Union

Solidarity with Ukraine

The European Green Deal

Realising Europe's Digital Decade

Investing in Europe's prosperity

Building a fairer and more inclusive Union

Managing migration responsibly

Strengthening democracy and the rule of law

A stronger Europe in the world

A more secure Europe

A new way forward on EU-UK relations

Related links

Six Commission priorities for 2019-2024

Political guidelines of the Commission (2019-2024)

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ACI EUROPE and ETC celebrate Bulgaria and Romania joining Schengen by air and sea

Applications now open for the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2024, etc and university of surrey launch children’s book series to promote careers in tourism, european tourism draws close to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, international travellers to europe prioritise safe destinations and affordable prices in 2024, etc general meeting #106, european travel commission celebrates 75th anniversary as new members join, europe’s tourism displays a strong rebound, but remains uneven across the regions, financial pressures shape europeans’ travel plans in late 2023 and early 2024, winners of the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2023 revealed, europe’s culture and history draw in long-haul travellers despite rising costs, europe’s rail tourism champions unveiled at world passenger festival 2023, tomorrow’s air and european travel commission join forces for climate-conscious travel, europe’s tourism rebound continues into 2023, driven by strong travel enthusiasm, europeans adjust travel plans due to cost worries, long-haul travellers to europe become more cost-conscious, etc general meeting #105, european travel commission elects miguel sanz as president, european travel commission launches climate action plan, european tourism regains lost ground despite persistent headwinds, european travellers opt for early summer trips to beat crowds and rising travel costs, key european tourism stakeholders co-sign a code of conduct on data sharing in tourism, europe needs return of long-haul travel to sustain recovery, applications now open for the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2023, europe’s tourism rebound predicted to continue into 2023, amid financial stress, europeans determined to keep their travel spend, long-haul travel sentiment to europe improves despite high global inflation, etc releases new research exploring consumer attitudes and future expectations to drive tourism recovery, preparatory actions for data space for tourism launched to harness full potential of eu tourism, etc general meeting #104, over 30 european tourism bodies gather in prague to discuss challenging winter ahead, rail revival full speed ahead as etc and eurail host best european rail tourism awards 2022, european tourism resilient in face of low consumer confidence, europeans embrace intra-european travel in spite of growing cost-of-living concerns, winners of the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2022 revealed, personal finances are main barrier to travel long-haul this autumn, etc appoints new chairmanship in canada, 1.2 million travel & tourism jobs across the eu will remain unfilled unless urgent action is taken, strong outlook for european tourism recovery but staff shortages and cost of living crisis loom, many europeans planning multiple holidays despite concerns around increasing travel costs, new etc research explores consumer travel attitudes and expectations to drive recovery, unwto and etc datalab to power european tourism forward, etc general meeting #103, russo-ukrainian crisis having little impact on long-haul travel sentiment to europe, europe’s tourism leaders gather in record attendance to discuss geopolitical and sustainability challenges, european travel commission extends complimentary membership to ukraine’s tourism agency, position paper: towards free movement of travellers within and into europe, european tourism to remain resilient in 2022 amidst pandemic and geopolitical uncertainty, strong appetite for travel in europe as over 3 in 4 europeans plan to travel this spring and summer, position on the european commission’s new regulation on eu digital covid certificate, european travel commission stands in solidarity with ukraine, applications now open for the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2022, european travel demand expected to be just 20% below pre-covid levels in 2022, omicron travel restrictions discourage europeans from travelling, but summer prospects are promising, europe’s national tourism authorities convene to discuss omicron’s impact and the road to recovery, etc and eurail reveal winners of best european rail tourism campaign awards 2021, intention for long-haul travel to europe recovering from 2021 low point, new etc report investigates impact of covid-19 on tourists’ sustainable travel attitudes, etc china chapter celebrates 10th anniversary, position on the commission’s proposals for council recommendations on intra-eu and international travel, wttc and etc call on eu member states to align responses to the evolving epidemiological situation, pre-pandemic levels of european travel will not be achieved until 2024, europeans more confident and relaxed towards travel in next months.

Winners of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2021

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plan, european travel commission reopens japan chapter for further expansion, european travel commission names new chairmanship in australia, etc published handbook on tourism forecasting methodologies, etc releases step-by-step framework for sustainable tourism development, #tourism4recovery: travel & tourism stakeholders urge investment in sustainable tourism as part of eu recovery, europe’s travel & tourism sector calls on eu governments to chart restart plan in time for summer, applications now open for the destination of sustainable cultural tourism awards 2021, europeans pin hopes on early summer vacations to beat the lockdown fatigue, 2020 marks the worst year for international arrivals to europe in over 30 years, travelling is not a crime: etc strongly condemns new uk travel measures, call for action: accelerate social and economic recovery by investing in sustainable tourism development, chinese travellers demonstrate the strongest enthusiasm for resuming overseas travel, 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times travel show, ludivine destrée appointed as new chair of etc china operations group, the netherlands board of tourism & conventions (nbtc) re-joins etc, etc and europa nostra join forces ahead of the european year of cultural heritage 2018, etc general meeting #94, high-level conference at the european parliament, european tourism stakeholders urge the european commission to come forward with a tourism strategy, etc’s newest bulletin – summer 2017, etc publishes new quarterly report, cifft world’s best tourism film 2017, destination europe brazil roadshow 2017, etc and igcat to promote authentic food travel experiences in europe, peter de wilde re-elected president of the european travel commission, itb china 2017, etc general meeting #93, etc’s newest bulletin winter 2016-2017, europe is the official partner destination for itb china 2017, etc and unwto address crisis communications in the tourism sector, etc general meeting #92, october destination europe china summit 2016, etc publishes new edition of long-haul travel barometer, a taste of europe – culinary and cultural tour, 27th european journalism prize – award ceremony, pm4sd summer school 2016, etc’s latest bulletin, etc stands in solidarity and reiterates its full support to the lgbt community and the people of orlando, etc general meeting #91, etc publishes new infographic focused on the comparison between first-time and repeat visitors to europe, etc strongly condemns attacks in brussels, etc-modul young tourism manager award, etc publishes new infographic on long-haul travel to europe, etc is launching a scholarship for a master thesis in sustainable tourism development in europe, etc’s newest bulletin, etc strongly condemns attacks in istanbul, exploring the us travel market to europe, etc supports the tourism for growth and jobs manifesto, etc strongly condemns attacks in paris, etc unwto study on the decision-making process of mcci organizers, etc press conference at wtm london, etc and etoa joint conference on brand europe, destination europe summit, declaration on the occasion of etc’s 90th general meeting in belgrade, etc announces cooperation with the european academy of chinese speaking tour guides, etc’s bulletin summer-autumn 2015, etc and etoa announce joint conference on brand europe, 1st etc marketing group meeting, invitation to tender, greek crisis and tourism, etc joins forces with aci europe, joint position on open skies by etc and aci europe, etc and eurail group announce cooperation, europe rediscovered, etc-unwto international seminar, etc’s bulletin summer 2015, belgrade to host the etc 90th general meeting, etc announces partnership with aci europe general assembly, etc elects a new executive team of vice-presidents, etc general meeting #89, workshop ‘towards joint promotion of europe as a tourist destination’, long-haul travel sentiment survey, etc and fest collaborate towards sustainability in tourism, the meaning of travel and the perception of europe as travel destination, visiteurope application wins unwto ulysses award for innovation in research and technology, etc’s bulletin issue 7, etc launches a new online campaign, etc snapshots – travel segments, marketing strategies for tourism destinations – a competitive analysis, industry leaders discuss how to re-energise tourism to europe, wtm panel discussion and press conference, european tourism amid the crimea crisis, call for proposal – european commission enterprise and industry, switzerland tourism’s “time” is the best european tourism film, etc general meeting #88, etc film awards ceremony, etc has published a new edition of its etc bulletin (september – december 2014), etc publishes new quarterly report (q2/2014), register now: etc forum on market trends 2014-2015, travel+leisure europop, european tourism portfolio analysis, etc committed to support prompt recovery of flooded areas in the balkans, wtm latin america, etc launches ‘meet the chinese travellers’ brochure, press conference at itb, destination europe 2020 conference, china conference – a taste of europe, transatlantic conference, press conference at fitur.

31 Mar 2024 ACI EUROPE and ETC celebrate entry of Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen Area starting with air and sea borders

23 Feb 2024 ETC and University of Surrey launch children’s book series to promote careers in tourism

13 Feb 2024 European tourism draws close to pre-pandemic levels in 2023

06 Feb 2024 International travellers to Europe prioritise safe destinations and affordable prices in 2024

24 Nov 2023 European Travel Commission celebrates 75th anniversary as new members join

07 Nov 2023 Europe’s tourism displays a strong rebound, but remains uneven across the regions

26 Oct 2023 Financial pressures shape Europeans’ travel plans in late 2023 and early 2024

12 Oct 2023 Europe’s culture and history draw in long-haul travellers despite rising costs

04 Oct 2023 Europe’s rail tourism champions unveiled at World Passenger Festival 2023

11 Jul 2023 Europe’s tourism rebound continues into 2023, driven by strong travel enthusiasm

05 Jul 2023 Europeans adjust travel plans due to cost worries

01 Jun 2023 Long-haul travellers to Europe become more cost-conscious

25 May 2023 European Travel Commission elects Miguel Sanz as President

24 May 2023 European Travel Commission launches Climate Action Plan

09 May 2023 European tourism regains lost ground despite persistent headwinds

13 Apr 2023 European travellers opt for early summer trips to beat crowds and rising travel costs

06 Mar 2023 Europe needs return of long-haul travel to sustain recovery

16 Feb 2023 Europe’s tourism rebound predicted to continue into 2023

09 Feb 2023 Amid financial stress, Europeans determined to keep their travel spend

01 Feb 2023 Long-haul travel sentiment to Europe improves despite high global inflation

European Travel Commission (Q1148601)

Identifiers, wikipedia (5 entries).

• arwiki المفوضية الأوروبية للسفر
• dewiki European Travel Commission
• enwiki European Travel Commission
• plwiki European Travel Commission
• svwiki European Travel Commission

Wikibooks (0 entries)

Wikinews (0 entries), wikiquote (0 entries), wikisource (0 entries), wikiversity (0 entries), wikivoyage (0 entries), wiktionary (0 entries), multilingual sites (0 entries).

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