Europe Risks Losing 41 Million Visitors if Border Waits Grow Too Long, WTTC Says
New research finds that regular three-hour-plus waits tied to Europe’s Entry/Exit System could put $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk and deter travelers from key long-haul markets.
Photo: Daniel Schludi / Unsplash
Europe’s upcoming Entry/Exit System could create a significant headwind for international travel if implementation leads to lengthy border queues, according to new research commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council.
The analysis found that up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending could be at risk if travelers regularly face border waits of three to four hours when entering the Schengen Area.
The findings are based on a survey of more than 2,500 travelers from four of Europe’s key long-haul source markets—the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. While respondents generally support the move toward digital and biometric border controls, enthusiasm for visiting Europe drops sharply when lengthy waits become part of the travel experience.
Among those surveyed, 39% of U.K. travelers said they would be much less likely to visit the Schengen Area if delays exceeded three hours. Similar sentiment was reported by 33% of respondents in both the U.S. and Canada, while 27% of Australian travelers said extended queues would make them reconsider a trip.
The EES, which will digitally record the entry and exit of non-EU visitors through biometric data collection, is designed to strengthen border security and modernize immigration processes. WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara described the system as “an important step forward” but cautioned that execution will be critical.
“The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible,” Guevara said.
Despite concerns about potential disruptions, the research found broad support for the program. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they support EES after learning more about it, while only 6% expressed strongly negative views toward biometric border controls. In addition, 87% said they would tolerate some short-term disruption if it leads to smoother travel in the future.
The bigger challenge may be traveler awareness. More than half of respondents said they know little or nothing about EES, and nearly half do not understand what will be required of them when entering or leaving the Schengen Area.
WTTC is urging European governments to accelerate the adoption of digital pre-registration tools, improve traveler communications, and ensure adequate staffing and equipment at border crossings before the system is fully implemented. As Europe prepares for the rollout, advisors may play a key role in helping clients understand the new requirements and navigate potential disruptions.
