Advocacy for the European elections

AMBITION 4 For a more attractive Europe: walking and hiking as tools to promote European heritage and culture

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T ourism accounts for 10% of the European Union’s GDP 12 and is one of the key sectors of the European economy. Moreover, according to the World Tourism Organisation, the European Union received 49% of the world’s incoming tourists in 2021 13 .

overtourism from the website Vie Publiqu 17 , the effects of tourist pressure have a negative impact on cultural heritage, local life and the environment. These programmes should therefore be more focused on the ecological and digital transition and be open to all young people, regardless of their financial resources or social background.

Promoting education and cultural diversity must also be at the heart of Europe’s ambitions. The Erasmus+ 14 , DiscoverEU 15 and Creative Europe 16 programmes are already in line with this objective, offering young people the opportunity to explore the European territory in all its diversity of heritage, culture and language.

However, according to data on

12 Fact Sheets on the European Union – Tourism https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/126/tourism 13 Data available on WHO website https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/global-and-regional-tourism-performance 14 Erasmus+ programme 15 DiscoverEU | European Youth Portal 16 About the Creative Europe programme - European Commission 17 From the Vie Publique website, 11 July 2023, «»Overtourism: what impact on cities and the environment? https://www.vie-publique.fr/eclairage/24088-le-surtourisme-quel-impact-sur-les-villes-et-sur-lenvironnement

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