From climate challenges to concrete solutions: how can Europe help its coastal regions and islands build more resilient tourism destinations?
This was the central question of “Towards an EU climate-resilient roadmap for sustainable tourism”, hosted by MEP Nikolina Brnjac at the European Parliament last 29 September 2026 and organised in the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED NaTour4CChange project.
With more than 120 participants, the event gathered European policymakers, Mediterranean regional authorities, international organisations and tourism practitioners to discuss how climate adaptation, Nature-based Solutions and territorial cooperation can shape the future of sustainable tourism and climate resilience in Europe.
Opening the debate: connecting European priorities with territorial realities
- MEP Nikolina Brnjac, host of the event, welcomed the exchange on the future of sustainable tourism and the importance of connecting European policy priorities with the needs and experiences of regions and destinations.
- Raül Hernández i Sagrera, Deputy Head of Cabinet of the Commissioner for the Mediterranean and Demography, highlighted the links between sustainable tourism, cultural heritage and cooperation between public institutions, regional authorities, and the private sector.
- Nisreen Tamimi, Deputy Secretary General for Sustainable Development at the Union for the Mediterranean, emphasised the importance of connecting existing initiatives and scaling up successful approaches to deliver tangible benefits for Mediterranean territories, communities and economies.
Three key messages from the discussion
- Stronger governance is essential for climate-resilient tourism: An efficient climate adaptation requires coordination between EU institutions, national authorities, regional governments and local stakeholders.
- Nature-based Solutions need long-term support to move beyond pilot projects: Heatwaves, water scarcity, coastal erosion and ecosystem degradation are among the pressures increasingly affecting Mediterranean tourism destinations. NbS can help address these challenges while protecting biodiversity and strengthening the resilience of the natural assets on which tourism depends.
- Islands and coastal regions need place-based solutions: The discussion highlighted the specific challenges facing island destinations, including water stress, seasonal population pressures, housing affordability, connectivity and the need to balance tourism activity with residents’ quality of life and environmental protection.
The message from this Brussels policy event was clear: climate-resilient tourism requires coordinated governance, sustained investment and solutions shaped by the places and communities they are intended to serve.
Discover more highlights and policy messages from the discussion in the below articles and report:
- CPMR Islands Commission article & CPMR Intermediterranean Commission article
- Capitalisation report
- Policy brief
- Photo gallery