Coastal tourism has established itself as the undisputed leader of the European Union's Blue Economy, generating the largest economic value and employing the majority of maritime sector workers, according to the latest EU Blue Economy Report 2025.

Economic Powerhouse

The coastal tourism sector demonstrates remarkable economic dominance, accounting for 32.7% of the entire EU Blue Economy's Gross Value Added (GVA) while employing an impressive 53.1% of all Blue Economy workers. This positioning reflects the sector's critical role in Europe's maritime economic landscape.

In 2022, the sector generated EUR 82.0 billion in GVA, representing a substantial 62% year-on-year increase from the EUR 50.7 billion recorded in 2021. The industry's turnover reached EUR 238.0 billion, with gross profits hitting EUR 30.3 billion an 84% increase compared to the previous year.

Tourism Infrastructure and Demand

The popularity of European coastal destinations is evidenced by accommodation statistics showing that 42% of the EU's total bed capacity is concentrated in coastal areas as of 2023. Tourist demand remains robust, with more than 1.4 billion nights spent at coastal accommodation establishments in 2023, marking a 6.4% increase from the previous year and surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 3.5%.

European residents made 920 million tourism trips to EU destinations in 2022, with coastal aspects serving as a decisive factor for nearly 30% of these journeys, highlighting the magnetic appeal of maritime destinations.

Employment Leadership by Country

Spain leads the coastal tourism employment sector, contributing 26% of all jobs, followed by Greece at 18%, France at 10%, and Italy at 9%. The employment structure shows accommodation services employing 1,086,100 persons (44% of sector jobs), other services including restaurants accounting for 1,125,200 positions (42%), and transport services providing 348,900 jobs (14%).

International Appeal

The sector demonstrates strong international drawing power, with 57% of coastal tourism driven by foreign residents on average, showing a 3% increase from the previous year. Some destinations exhibit exceptional international appeal: Cyprus attracts 94% foreign tourists, while Croatia and Malta each draw 93%, and Greece welcomes 86% international visitors to its coastal areas.

Leading Destinations

Spain emerged as the top destination with 363 million visitors, followed by Italy at 238 million and France at 163 million. These figures correlate with the countries' extensive coastlines and established tourism infrastructure, reinforcing their positions as premier European coastal destinations.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

The sector faces significant challenges from climate change, with projections indicating potential tourist losses of up to 9.12% in vulnerable regions like the Greek Ionian Islands under high-emission scenarios. However, the industry is responding through sustainable tourism initiatives and digital transformation, with the European Commission's Transition Pathway for Tourism providing a framework for green and digital evolution.

The coastal tourism sector's dominance in the EU Blue Economy reflects not only its current economic significance but also its potential for sustainable growth through environmental stewardship and technological innovation.

Source: EU Blue Economy Observatory - Coastal Tourism Report 2025, European Commission