Regions and cities demand increased support for sustainable and roots tourism

Attracting tourists who have ancestral connections to their destination can boost sustainable tourism and revitalise local communities at risk of depopulation. This is why local and regional representatives, in an opinion, led by Giuseppe Varacalli, member of Gerace municipal council, call for a stronger promotion of roots tourism as catalyst for tourism sustainability and inclusive growth. The proposals were endorsed during the CoR’s October Plenary session, held in conjunction with the European Week of Regions and Cities. Regions, cities, towns and villages are pivotal in fostering sustainable tourism. They call for more ambitious tourism policies and tailored economic measures.

While Europe remains the most visited place in the world, overtourism presents significant challenges for local authorities, including noise pollution, overcrowding, increased waste and increasing house prices. Roots tourism, also known as ‘genealogy tourism’ or ‘diaspora tourism’, offers a solution. This segment of the tourism market attracts tourists who have ancestral connections to their holiday destination. It is estimated that up to 48% of tourists around the world travel to visit friends and relatives, positioning roots tourism as a key driver of both cultural and economic development.

Local and regional authorities have a pivotal role to play in developing sustainable tourism, at a moment when resources, socio-cultural sustainability and quality of life are at stake in many tourism destinations. Local and regional leaders urge the European Commission and Member States to explore ways of financing actions and programmes which support sustainable and roots tourism, and to push ahead with the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. To ensure that tourism policies are efficient and successful, they should be linked to strategies for other policy areas, such as sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation and skills development. 

The development of roots and sustainable tourism will leverage comparative advantages to all local communities by empowering them while preserving and highlighting their cultural and natural heritage, traditions and customs. In turn, such initiatives will benefit local businesses, bolster local infrastructure and public services, create employment opportunities and ensure equitable distribution of benefits in regions and rural areas. 

Quote 

Rapporteur Giuseppe Varacalli (IT/Renew), member of Gerace municipal council (Calabria): “I welcome the appointment of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, our CoR Vice-President, as Commissioner designated for Sustainable Tourism and wish him all the best in his work. I am sure of the commitment he will bring to local communities. It is my pleasure, as a member of the CoR and rapporteur of the opinion on roots tourism, to give my availability, together with the NAT Commission, to work together giving recognition to this important segment of tourism, i.e. organising meetings, seminars and debates, I hope, starting from my own region of Calabria.”

Background 

Comprehensive study on Rural tourism and development in Europe (CoR-UN Tourism)