The European Commission has officially approved the Sustainable Tourism Strategy of the European Union. This was announced at a press conference in Brussels by Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and Commissioner for Energy and Housing Policy Apostolos Tsitsikostas. Addressing journalists, Fitto thanked his colleagues for their work on the document and emphasized the importance of the tourism sector for the EU economy. The Strategy is designed to ensure a balance between tourism development, environmental protection, and support for local communities in EU member states. Commission representatives noted that tourism remains one of the key sectors of the union's economy, providing a significant share of jobs and gross domestic product in many regions. At the same time, the growing flow of tourists creates pressure on infrastructure, natural resources, and the quality of life of local residents in popular destinations. The new strategy envisages a comprehensive approach to addressing these problems, including measures to reduce the environmental footprint of the tourism sector, support for small and medium-sized enterprises in tourism, as well as promoting a more even distribution of tourist flows throughout the year and across the union's territory. The Commissioners expressed hope that the document will serve as a basis for coordinated action at the EU level and in individual member states, aimed at ensuring long-term competitiveness of European tourism while preserving the continent's natural and cultural heritage. Details of the strategy's implementation, including specific financial mechanisms and timelines for individual measures, are expected to be clarified through further consultations with member states and industry associations.