Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies urges stronger role for trains in EU sustainable tourism strategy

The European rail sector has called for railways to play a central role in the forthcoming European Union Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, arguing that greener mobility is essential to the future of Europe’s travel industry.

The appeal came during the second Strategic Dialogue on the strategy, convened in Brussels by European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, from Greece. The meeting brought together senior representatives from the tourism and transport sectors to identify key actions needed to create a greener, more digital, resilient and competitive European tourism ecosystem.

The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) was represented by its Chair and PKP Group CEO Alan Beroud, alongside CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola. The organisation used the platform to underline what it sees as three core mobility challenges that must be addressed in the new strategy: decarbonisation, overtourism and data fragmentation.

Transport emissions dominate tourism footprint

According to CER, transport accounts for around 75% of tourism-related emissions. Given that most EU tourism is intra-European, the organisation argues that shifting more journeys from air and road to rail is critical to meeting climate targets.

CER also pointed to overtourism in major European hotspots. It said that national rail passes and international products such as Eurail and Interrail already help redistribute visitor flows by encouraging travel to lesser-known destinations and outside peak seasons, supporting more balanced regional development.

A further obstacle is the lack of comprehensive data on tourist mobility patterns across Europe. CER argued that closing this data gap is essential to plan rail services capable of triggering a substantial modal shift.

Linking tourism to high-speed rail expansion

The rail body also called for close alignment between the tourism strategy and the EU Action Plan for a European High-Speed Rail Network. Connecting all major European capitals with high-speed rail would offer a sustainable alternative for the 81% of tourists who travel within the EU, CER said, while generating economic benefits and long-term employment in both services and manufacturing.

However, the organisation stressed that attracting more tourists to rail depends on creating a genuine level playing field between transport modes. Among the measures proposed are abolishing VAT on international rail tickets, addressing energy taxation on rail electricity, and fully applying the polluter-pays principle so that the most environmentally friendly option becomes the most affordable.

“Sustainable tourism cannot exist without sustainable mobility”

Beroud argued that rail’s extensive network gives it a unique role in shaping Europe’s tourism model.

“With thousands of rail stations across Europe and a variety of national and international rail passes to choose from, railways can bring travellers to almost any region they want to visit,” he said. 

“As 97% of CO₂ emissions from hotel stays stem from how guests arrive and depart, it is clear that sustainable tourism cannot exist without sustainable mobility.”

He added that railways should have a prominent place in the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism as providers of clean and efficient transport that encourage the discovery of lesser-known destinations while driving local economies.

CER represents around 70 railway undertakings, infrastructure managers, national associations and rolling stock leasing companies across the EU, EFTA and accession countries. Together, its members account for the vast majority of Europe’s rail network, freight activity and passenger operations.

The European Commission is expected to present the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism later this year.

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