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A European plan to grow the tourism sector across the continent has put recreational boating, in all its forms, as a key part of its new strategy.

The resolution by the European parliament includes a series of priorities relevant for nautical tourism and marks an important step forward for recreational boating.

The report sends a clear political signal that nautical tourism is not a niche offer on the margins of European tourism.

Instead, it is a high-value part of Europe’s tourism economy, part of its maritime identity and part of the solution for more balanced, sustainable and regionally inclusive tourism growth.

The EU recognises that the rise of specialised tourism, including “nautical” tourism, creates new opportunities for peripheral, rural and outermost regions and that “the growth of specialised tourism requires support through investment in the necessary infrastructure.”

It has been welcomed by the European Boating Industry (EBI), which represents the trade, encompassing all related sectors, such as boatbuilding, equipment manufacturing, marinas, tourism and service providers.

A major result for the EBI is Parliament’s support for action on boating licence recognition. The adopted report “calls on the Commission to follow up on the study assessing the advantages and drawbacks of a possible mutual recognition of boating licences for recreational boat operators by proposing a regulatory measure” that facilitates the mobility of “approximately 48 million European boaters” and supports nautical tourism and the blue economy.

This is a direct response to one of the most persistent barriers boaters and boating businesses face in Europe.

The report also strengthens recognition of the boating sector in the clean transition, welcoming the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan and explicitly stating that support for sustainable fuels in waterborne transport should include the existing fleet of leisure boats.

EBI secretary general Philip Easthill said: “This is a strong result for the boating and nautical tourism sector. The European Parliament has recognised that nautical tourism belongs at the centre of European tourism, connectivity and sustainability agenda.

“The report reflects key EBI priorities: better cross-border mobility for boaters, support for the energy transition and recognition of boating as part of Europe’s cultural heritage.

“These are big wins for our industry and for the many coastal, island, inland waterway and outermost communities that depend on it. We thank, in particular, MEP Daniel Attard and MEP Nikolina Brnjac for their commitment in driving excellence in European tourism and regional tourism growth.

The boating industry is a significant contributor to the European economy, representing 32,000 companies, predominantly SMEs that employ over 280,000 people directly.

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