The World Travel & Tourism Council is urging European governments to ensure the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) avoids lengthy border delays that could deter millions of visitors. WTTC warns that poor implementation could put 41 million arrivals and US$45.4 billion in tourism spending at risk.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called on European policymakers to ensure the implementation of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) does not disrupt international travel, warning that lengthy border delays could damage Europe’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination.
The appeal follows growing concerns from Europe’s aviation sector after Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) jointly published an open letter on 29 June urging governments to address operational challenges ahead of the new border system’s deployment.
The EES, one of the European Union’s most significant border management reforms, will replace manual passport stamping for non-EU travelers entering and leaving the Schengen Area. The system will digitally record travelers’ biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, alongside entry and exit information, with the aim of improving border security, combating irregular migration, and streamlining future border crossings.
While the travel industry broadly supports the long-term benefits of the new system, WTTC cautions that implementation must be carefully managed to avoid unintended consequences for travelers and businesses.
“The Travel & Tourism sector fully supports modernizing Europe’s borders and strengthening security,” WTTC said, adding that the organization has consistently warned that inadequate preparation—including insufficient staffing, unreliable equipment, limited operational flexibility, and poor traveler communication—could create severe bottlenecks at border crossings.
According to new WTTC research involving more than 2,500 travelers across key long-haul and short-haul source markets, prolonged border waits could significantly discourage travel to Europe. The study found that if travelers regularly experience waiting times of three hours or more, around one-third would be less likely to visit the Schengen Area.
Applied to current tourism forecasts, WTTC estimates that such delays could put as many as 41 million international arrivals at risk in 2026, potentially resulting in a loss of US$45.4 billion in visitor spending across Europe.
To minimize disruption, WTTC has outlined three priority actions for governments and border authorities.
First, the organization is urging authorities to accelerate the adoption of the Travel to Europe mobile application, allowing travelers to complete EES pre-registration digitally before arrival. Second, it recommends launching coordinated communication campaigns across major international source markets to ensure visitors understand the new entry requirements before traveling. Finally, WTTC stresses the need for full operational readiness at border checkpoints through adequate staffing, dependable technology, and streamlined processing procedures, particularly for travelers who have already completed biometric registration in advance.
The organization argues that these measures are essential to maintaining a smooth visitor experience while delivering the security benefits promised by the new digital border framework.
Travel & Tourism remains one of Europe’s most important economic sectors. According to WTTC, the industry contributed approximately US$3 trillion to the European economy in 2025 and supported 40.7 million jobs—equivalent to the combined populations of Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said Europe must avoid allowing operational issues to undermine the region’s appeal to international visitors.
“EES represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe. But implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveler focused. If longer delays become accepted practice, travelers will look elsewhere. Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors. We encourage policymakers to work closely with industry to ensure the system delivers on its promise of better borders without creating unintended barriers to travel.”
As Europe prepares to introduce one of its most ambitious border modernization initiatives, industry leaders are united in supporting the objectives of EES while emphasizing that successful implementation will depend on close cooperation between governments, border agencies, airports, airlines, and the wider travel sector.
WTTC maintains that with proper planning, investment, and communication, Europe can achieve stronger border security without sacrificing the seamless travel experience that has long been one of its greatest competitive advantages.
