News

18 May 2026

Cities as Architects of Sustainable Tourism: EU Dialogue Redefines Urban Roles

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Discover how European cities are reshaping tourism through strategic partnership and innovative management.

In a groundbreaking initiative under the EU Agenda for Cities, the European Commission has initiated a new format of technical dialogue with urban stakeholders, marking a pivotal shift in how cities engage with tourism policy. The inaugural dialogue in Copenhagen marked a new era where cities are transitioning from mere implementers to becoming active designers of tourism solutions alongside the EU. This dialogue emphasized the importance of balanced tourism management amid ever-growing visitor numbers, stressing sustainable practices, climate resilience, and the protection of local identities as essential components of the future EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.

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European Commission

Related Organisation(s)

European Commission

Topics Geographical descriptors

Albania

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Türkiye

Ukraine

Other

Organisation Type

Academic / Research and VET Institutions

Business Support Organisation

Company with 250 or more employees

Cluster Organisations

Consumer Organisations

Cultural and Heritage Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

EU Institutions

Financial Institutions and Investors

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

International Organisations

Local Authorities

Media / Journalist Organisations

National authorities

Networks and Federations / Confederations

NGOs / Non-profits

Notified Bodies

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

Social Economy Entity

Trade Unions

Other

• Specific types of tourism

• • Adventure tourism

  • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

  • Cultural tourism

  • Ecotourism

  • Education tourism

  • Festival tourism

  • Gastronomy tourism

  • Health and medical tourism

  • MICE tourism

  • Mountain tourism

  • Religious tourism

  • Rural tourism

  • Sports tourism

  • Urban/city tourism

  • Wellness tourism

• Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

• • Best practices, peer learning and networking

  • Changes in tourism demand and opportunities

  • Governance of tourism destinations

  • Sustainable mobility

  • Tourism strategies

  • Well-being of residents

• Business activities

• • Activities of amusement parks and theme parks

  • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

  • Air passenger transport

  • Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks

  • Events catering and other food services

  • Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities

  • Gardens and nature reserves activities

  • Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation

  • Hotel and similar accommodation

  • Mobile beverage services

  • Mobile food services

  • Museums

  • Operation of historical sites

  • Other

  • Other accommodation

  • Other amusement and recreation activities

  • Other food and beverage services

  • Other holiday reservation services

  • Other tourism transportation activities

  • Rail Passenger transport

  • Recreational and sport activities

  • Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)

  • Road passenger transport

  • Tour operator activities

  • Travel agency activities

  • Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport

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A New Collaborative Approach

The first technical dialogue, attended by over 90 representatives from European cities, the European Commission, and local stakeholders, showcased this innovative collaboration. With support from the European Urban Initiative, cities are now vital contributors to policy creation, bringing distinct local realities into the EU policymaking process. The dialogue centered on the theme of balanced tourism management, using it as a gateway to broader urban transitions including climate resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable urban mobility.

Strategic Themes and Discussions

The dialogue was structured around three thematic working groups:

Towards Practical Solutions

Commission representatives acknowledged the EU's role in supporting local actions through funding, data standards, and peer learning. Initiatives like the EU Tourism Dashboard and Tourism Transition Pathway platform were highlighted as key resources. As part of a Focused Policy Lab, the two-day event fostered knowledge sharing on environmentally sustainable business models and social innovation through inclusive tourism.

This dialogue is a significant stride towards a more structured and practical partnership between European institutions and cities, embodying a shared vision for sustainable and strategic tourism that benefits both visitors and local communities alike.

For more information and presentations from cities, follow this link.

#Sustainable tourism #Destination management #Community-based tourism #Stakeholder engagement #Climate-friendly tourism practices #Sustainable destinations

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