Travel and tourism stakeholders gather in Gothenburg to reaffirm their sustainability commitments
On 9 July 2025, one year after adopting the Rhodes Declaration, Europe’s leading tourism and travel organisations gathered in Gothenburg to renew and strengthen their shared commitment to sustainability and climate resilience.
The Rhodes Declaration was undertaken by ten major European tourism organisations, including HOTREC, ACI EUROPE, A4E, CLIA, ECTAA, EEIA, ERA, IAAPA, IRU, and Ruraltour. The declaration was framed as both a private‑sector commitment to action and a strategic appeal to EU leadership for policy and funding support. Symbolically, Rhodes was chosen following devastating wildfires in summer 2023, positioning the forum as a turning point toward resilience and sustainability in European tourism. It commits the private sector to a collective roadmap focusing on:
- decarbonisation of the travel and tourism industry,
- industry collaboration and dissemination of best practices,
- support for SMEs (99% of the tourism ecosystem is in this tier),
- education and workforce development in line with the commitments expressed in the Pact for Skills in Tourism,
- policy engagement to shape the regulatory landscape to tackle the climate emergency while safeguarding the viability of the sector.
The 2025 edition of the Rhodes Forum brought together key European stakeholders to assess progress, exchange best practices, and accelerate efforts to decarbonise both leisure and business travel and tourism. This year, special emphasis was placed on empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and supporting the industry to achieve the green transition. The event was complemented by site visits and engagement with local partners, including the iconic Liseberg Park, offering real-world insights into sustainable tourism in action.
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