European commission issues guidelines for sustainable tourism in Natura 2000 sites

On Tuesday, the European Commission released new guidelines aimed at integrating sustainable tourism within the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. The Natura 2000 network comprises over 27,000 sites across EU member states, covering 18.6% of the bloc's land and 10.5% of its marine territory. These guidelines seek to balance economic activity with the legal requirements for biodiversity protection as defined by EU bird and habitat directives. Economic activities are permitted within these zones provided they do not undermine conservation goals. In 2024, the tourism sector contributed 7.1% to the EU's gross value added, totaling approximately 807 billion euros and supporting over 20 million jobs. Specifically, tourism activities within Natura 2000 sites generate between 50 and 85 billion euros annually and support up to 2 million full-time jobs, particularly in rural, coastal, and mountain areas. The Commission also highlighted the rapid growth of ecotourism, noting it has been expanding at an annual rate of up to 34% since the early 1990s.