The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has voiced support for concerns raised by Europe’s aviation industry over the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), backing an open letter from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

WTTC said it supports efforts to modernise border security but warned that insufficient staffing, lack of equipment, limited flexibility and weak traveller communication could create major bottlenecks and damage Europe’s competitiveness as a travel destination.

It added that such issues could make Europe less attractive compared with regions offering faster and more seamless entry processes.

Citing research among more than 2,500 travellers, WTTC warned that border waiting times of three hours or more could significantly reduce demand, with around one-third of respondents saying they would be less likely to visit the Schengen area.

It estimated this could put up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk by 2026.

The council urged three key measures for a smooth EES rollout: faster adoption of the Travel to Europe app for pre-registration, a coordinated global communication campaign to inform travellers of new requirements, and full operational readiness at borders with adequate staffing and reliable systems.

WTTC stressed that while it supports improved security and efficiency, implementation must ensure smooth travel flows and protect tourism’s economic impact, which contributed $3 trillion to Europe’s economy and supported 40.7 million jobs in 2025.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “EES represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe. But implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveller focused. If lengthy delays become accepted practice, travellers will look elsewhere. Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors. We encourage European Commissioners to work closely with industry to ensure the system delivers on its promise of better borders without creating unintended barriers to travel.” -TradeArabia News Service