The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) issued a cautionary statement on June 8, 2026, regarding potential delays of up to three hours at European Union external borders due to the Entry/Exit System (EES).
WTTC Highlights Risk to Visitor Arrivals
According to the WTTC’s analysis, these extended processing times could discourage as many as 41 million arrivals to Europe, posing a significant risk to the region’s tourism sector. The warning draws attention to the scale of visitor disruption that might follow if border delays are not mitigated.
Potential Impact on Travelers
Travelers attempting to enter or exit the EU may face waits of several hours, potentially resulting in missed flight
or train connections and in turn, possible cancellations. Such delays could affect travel plans considerably, according to the WTTC’s observations.
While exact figures on visitor losses are not specified beyond this analysis, the alert underscores concerns about the operational challenges posed by EES implementation at border controls.
