- The European Travel Commission and GDS-Movement published a guide on New EU Sustainability Regulations at IMEX Frankfurt 2025.
- The white paper warns tourism management organizations of looming sustainability laws.
- Key topics include transparency, greenwashing, and reputation laundering prevention.
- DMOs and NTOs everywhere—yes, even those with suspiciously low carbon footprints—are affected.
- These are straightforward steps for compliance, financial risk dodging, and impressing the EU.
- Webinars on June 10 and 11, 2025, for those who prefer virtual pain over paperwork.
- The guide can be found at ETC Corporate News.
A White Paper With More Rules Than a Medieval Guild
Once upon a time, the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) decided that European tourism needed another helping of bureaucracy. At IMEX Frankfurt 2025, they unveiled their latest creation: “A Destination’s Guide to the New EU Sustainability Regulations.” Take note because ignoring it could cost more than just a guilty conscience.
Their guide graces Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), and the rest of the tourism flock with an urgent list of things to do before Brussels comes knocking. According to the powers that be, the New EU Sustainability Regulations are here to drag the sector—kicking and screaming, if necessary—toward a cleaner, greener future and away from dodgy marketing claims.
Regulations: Not Just for Europeans Who Like Paperwork
These updates are far from picky when choosing victims. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD), and the Green Claims Directive (GCD) promise to inspect every corner of the tourism industry. That includes global accommodation platforms, digital intermediaries, and other entities that might have thought their business address would shelter them from regulation.
With calls for higher transparency and accountability, any organization hoping to sell tours, beds, or vague eco-promises within EU borders must take stock. “Sustainability is now a key factor in how destinations are viewed and engaged with,” as ETC CEO Eduardo Santander stated, appearing utterly delighted at the prospect of extra scrutiny.
Compliance, or What’s Left of It
The white paper tackles a list of responsibilities straight out of a bureaucratic blockbuster:
- Figure out who’s in charge of following the directives. Good luck.
- Sync management strategies and marketing materials with the new rules, even if that means deleting your favorite buzzwords.
- Address the risks of sidestepping rules, from embarrassing headlines to angry regulators.
Apparently, “Destinations that act now will build trust, enhance their reputations, and be better-positioned for long-term success,” declared Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement, who reframed turning endless regulations into a business opportunity as a badge of honour.
Webinars: The Gift of Further Explanation
For those craving more instruction and less sleep, ETC and the GDS-Movement have organized two enlightening webinars on June 10 and 11, 2025. These sessions promise to unpack the regulations without judgment—unless you show up unprepared.
Download the White Paper and Begin Your Compliance Odyssey
For those with a taste for regulatory reading or those instructed not to be the last ones caught out, the full white paper is available for download at ETC Corporate News. Expect step-by-step guides, risk-avoidance tips, and a handy blueprint for explaining why your marketing strategy now resembles legalese to your board.
When the EU says jump, tourism management organizations should probably ask how high—and maybe whether anyone is measuring the carbon emissions of that jump. The clock is ticking, and compliance waits for no one.
