The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, participated in the meeting of the Competitiveness Council in Brussels, where the repercussions of the war in the Middle East on the tourism sector were discussed.
During the meeting, the conclusions were approved that will lay the foundations for the European Sustainable Tourism Strategy, focused on building a more sustainable and competitive tourism model.
Sánchez emphasized the importance of the European Union maintaining connectivity between the sending and receiving countries of tourism, underscoring her stance against the war due to its serious humanitarian consequences and the violation of international law. Despite the difficulties, the Secretary of State conveyed a message of calm, stating that the indicators point to a good tourist season, which will allow the EU to adopt a position of ‘watchful calm’ regarding possible price increases.
Additionally, Sánchez advocated for the inclusion of the tourism sector in the new multiannual financial framework of the EU, seeking to contribute to the green transition and promote innovation and competitiveness in the sector. For the first time in three years, the Competitiveness Council addressed two specific debates on tourism, reflecting the growing strategic weight of this industry in the European context. “Our goal is to lead sustainable tourism globally,” concluded the Secretary of State.
