Meeting in Brussels on 28 May 2026, EU Competitiveness and Tourism ministers—under the Belgian presidency of the Council—unanimously adopted conclusions titled “Building a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism for the Future”. The text, recorded in document 9075/26, underlines the need for “reliable, affordable, accessible, year-round air, land and waterborne links” and calls for better multimodal connectivity and integrated ticketing to support both residents and visitors. Although the conclusions apply to the whole Union, they carry particular weight for Belgium, where tourism represents 6 % of GDP and where congested mobility networks routinely draw criticism from investors. The Council urges member states to redistribute tourist flows away from overcrowded city centres, invest in high-speed rail corridors and ensure that transport infrastructure supports peripheral and rural destinations. For corporate travel managers the document signals future funding and regulatory initiatives—such as interoperable ticketing systems and incentives for low-carbon first- and last-mile options—that could reshape intra-EU duty travel. The emphasis on reducing administrative burden and simplifying EU legislation dovetails with Belgium’s own push to digitalise entry formalities.
![EU Ministers Adopt Tourism Conclusions Emphasising Seamless Cross-Border Mobility]()
Against this backdrop, business and leisure travellers can lean on VisaHQ’s online platform to obtain Belgian visas, monitor Schengen entry changes and manage multi-country itineraries in one dashboard—reducing paperwork in line with the ministers’ call for administrative simplification (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/).
Belgium’s rotating Council presidency (January–June 2026) shepherded the text through working groups after adding language on workforce shortages and the importance of year-round air connectivity for hub airports such as Brussels and Charleroi. Stakeholders expect follow-up proposals from the European Commission later in 2026, potentially opening new grant streams that regional Belgian airports and tourist boards can tap for sustainability upgrades.
Against this backdrop, business and leisure travellers can lean on VisaHQ’s online platform to obtain Belgian visas, monitor Schengen entry changes and manage multi-country itineraries in one dashboard—reducing paperwork in line with the ministers’ call for administrative simplification (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/).
Belgium’s rotating Council presidency (January–June 2026) shepherded the text through working groups after adding language on workforce shortages and the importance of year-round air connectivity for hub airports such as Brussels and Charleroi. Stakeholders expect follow-up proposals from the European Commission later in 2026, potentially opening new grant streams that regional Belgian airports and tourist boards can tap for sustainability upgrades.
