EBI joins active tourism coalition in EU policy discussions
The Active Tourism Coalition brings together 20 organisations working to strengthen the role of active tourism in Europe
The European Boating Industry (EBI) has joined the Active Tourism Coalition, a group of EU-level associations representing cycling, walking, hiking and water-based activities.
The coalition has submitted a set of proposals to inform the forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy. The proposals call for active tourism to be explicitly recognised within EU sustainable tourism policy – and this includes inland and coastal boating and nautical tourism.
For the boating sector, the proposals identify priorities such as investment under the EU’s next long-term budget for the 2028-2034 period, funding for inland and coastal waterway networks and related infrastructure, including marina-related facilities and services, and support for tourism promotion.
EBI represents the recreational boating industry in Europe. Through its participation in the coalition, the association says it is seeking continued engagement with EU institutions to ensure that boating and nautical tourism are reflected within its infrastructure and investment priorities, including recognition of the role played by marinas and inland and coastal waterways in Europe’s tourism economy.
According to industry data cited by EBI, at least 48m Europeans take part in boating activities each year. The sector supports an industry with a turnover of €45bn in Europe, encompassing around 32,000 businesses and approximately 280,000 jobs.
The Active Tourism Coalition describes itself as a partner for European institutions and brings together 20 organisations working jointly to strengthen the role of active tourism within European policies.
See the full list of coalition members and read the proposals online.
