Apostolos Tzitzikostas has been appointed as the new Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism for the 2024–2029 term. The tourism portfolio has now transitioned from DG Growth (Textile and Tourism) to DG Move (Transport and Tourism).
Tzitzikostas emphasized that for Europe to maintain its global leadership in tourism—both in numbers and quality—DG Move’s priorities must focus on competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience. His primary goal is to build on this foundation while ensuring that the climate crisis remains a top priority in his future Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.
Key priorities include:
- Strengthening Europe’s global brand as a “unique” destination through unified marketing efforts.
- Conducting extensive consultations with stakeholders, including a youth dialogue, to shape the strategy.
- Developing a roadmap that supports the tourism sector while preserving the environment and enhancing the well-being of local communities.
- Addressing priority areas identified in the Tourism Transition Pathway.
In addition to tackling climate change, his strategy will also focus on unbalanced tourism, labor shortages, workforce training, and digital innovation, including artificial intelligence.
Responsibilities of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas:
- Transport Infrastructure: Ensuring the completion of missing Trans-European Transport Corridor segments by 2030 and reinforcing the single market for transport services.
- Tourism Development: Promoting a resilient and competitive tourism sector aligned with the EU Agenda for Tourism 2030.
- High-Speed Rail Network: Proposing an ambitious European high-speed rail network to connect EU capitals.
- Digital Ticketing & Passenger Rights: Developing a Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation to allow passengers to purchase a single ticket across platforms while ensuring strong consumer protections.
- Sustainable Transport Investment: Implementing a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan to accelerate sector-wide decarbonization, focusing on electrification and emerging technologies.
- Sector-Specific Transport Strategies: Developing a new industrial maritime strategy and a comprehensive strategy for EU ports, with a focus on security and competitiveness.