Europe's History and Diversity

The adoption of the Euro currency

Just over 50%

To share information and expertise among NTOs of ETC member countries

Europe faces challenges from a resurgent Russia to the east, Islamic fundamentalism, and to the south growing pressure from Africa, caused by poverty, the aspirations of a youthful population for a better life and internal political changes.

Europe is pre-eminent in the world's tourism system due to its advanced economies, affluent and mobile population, rich languages, cultural resources and tourist attractions of world calibre, the adoption of the single European currency, its proximity of small countries, significant climatic differences and a mature tourism infrastructure with highly developed tourism sector.

The growth of tourism in Europe over the past few decades is attributed to the movement towards economic and political integration which is still in progress, the adoption of the single European currency, the dismantling of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the opening up of Eastern Europe, and the advent of the Single European Market and the adoption of the Euro which have removed barriers to tourism movement within the region.