Eastern member states say the war in Ukraine and security fears are keeping visitors away.
Slovakia recorded 19 percent fewer nights spent in tourist accommodation in 2024 than before the pandemic, putting it among the EU countries struggling most to benefit from Europe’s tourism boom.
It has now joined Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania in asking the European Commission for help, arguing that Russia’s war against Ukraine and related security concerns are discouraging visitors from travelling to destinations in the EU’s east.
“Tourism flows have declined considerably in most of these regions,” the seven countries said in a 23 July letter, as quoted by Euronews.
Eurostat figures comparing 2024 with 2019 show a striking divide, according to The Kyiv Independent. Nights spent in tourist accommodation increased by 49.5 percent in Ireland, 22 percent in Denmark and 19 percent in the Netherlands.
