The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has raised concerns over potential tourism disruptions in Europe during 2026 linked to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES). The organization cautions that delays caused by this border system could put as many as 41 million visitor arrivals at risk and threaten an estimated $45 billion in tourism revenue.
Delays tied to the EES are expected to create lengthy queues and significant wait times at borders within Schengen Area countries. These disruptions may result in considerable travel delays for visitors entering Europe, with some border processing times projected to stretch up to three
hours.
EES Border System Challenges in Europe
The new system has been designed to enhance border security, but the initial implementation phase appears to present operational challenges. The prolonged procedures at checkpoints across multiple EU countries could slow down traveler flow, affecting millions planning to visit Europe in the upcoming year.
With no definitive timeline for resolving these border delays, the WTTC urges authorities to address the issues promptly to mitigate impacts on Europe’s tourism sector. Visitors are advised to anticipate longer waiting periods at border crossings while plans to improve processing times are under development.
