- The European Commission plans to launch its new Tourism Academy in late 2027 to tackle staff shortages and raise training standards across Europe.
- European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas shared the schedule during a Brussels briefing with Greek journalists organized by the European Commission Representation in Greece.
- The Academy forms part of the EU’s first Sustainable Tourism Strategy, adopted by the European Commission on November 4.
- Greece proposed hosting the Academy during an informal gathering of EU tourism ministers in Ireland days earlier, backed by Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.
Tzitzikostas said the next twelve months will go toward groundwork and picking top universities and schools for the program. “Our aim is to bring together some of Europe’s best and most prominent higher education institutions,” Tzitzikostas said, noting he has already reached out to several schools and expects a number of them to join.
Brussels will open a public call for colleges and training centers to submit proposals and form partnerships. Those choices will shape where the Academy sets up shop. “The Academy’s headquarters will be announced once the procedures have been completed and the proposals submitted,” Tzitzikostas said. He added that the program could run out of more than one site depending on partner picks, and could start online if physical spaces are not ready in 2027.
Greece Pushes for Host Role
Athens moved quickly to stake a claim. Less than a week before the Brussels briefing, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni proposed that Greece host the EU Tourism Academy at an informal meeting of EU tourism ministers in Ireland. Kefalogianni underlined Greece’s readiness to help put the European tourism strategy into action and pointed to workforce training as a core priority.
Key Figures and Timetable
- Target launch window: Late 2027
- Strategy adoption date: November 4
- Lead official: Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
- Host bid lead: Olga Kefalogianni, Greek Tourism Minister
- Partner mix: National tourism institutes, universities, vocational training groups, and sector stakeholders building shared courses and materials for green and digital shifts
The Academy sits inside a broader Brussels push to ease labor gaps, sharpen job skills, and prepare staff for green and digital changes across the industry.
Source: Greek Travel Pages (GTP).