Europe’s new border system was built to make travel faster, safer and smarter. That is the promise. The World Travel & Tourism Council now warns it must not become Europe’s most costly queue.
WTTC has backed concerns raised by Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe and IATA. These groups have urged the European Commission to keep the Schengen Entry/Exit System, or EES, practical as it rolls out. Their point is simple. Europe needs modern borders. But a border that leaves visitors waiting for three hours is not a warm welcome. It is more “take a number” than “bonjour”.
EES is an automated system for non-EU travellers entering or leaving 29 European countries for short stays. It records travel data and uses face images and fingerprints. It is meant to replace much of the old passport-stamp routine. For Australians, Britons, Canadians and Americans, the first moment in Europe could be less about cafés and cathedrals, and more about kiosks.
WTTC says the risk is real. Its latest analysis was based on research among 2,512 travellers from the US, UK, Canada and Australia. It found that regular border waits of three hours or more could make about one-third of travellers less likely to visit the Schengen area. Based on 2026 forecasts, WTTC says up to 41 million arrivals and US$45.4 billion in visitor spending could be at risk.
This is not a small paper problem. WTTC says Travel & Tourism added US$3 trillion to Europe’s economy in 2025. It also supported 40.7 million jobs. That is a mighty engine. It powers hotels, restaurants, cruise ports, attractions, guides, rail trips, coach tours and small bakeries that know exactly when the tour bus is due.
WTTC wants three clear fixes. First, speed up the Travel to Europe app. That would let visitors complete digital EES pre-registration before they reach the border. Second, run a clear information push in key source markets, so travellers know the rules before they pack. Third, make sure borders have enough staff, sound equipment and smooth steps. This is vital for people who have already supplied biometric and pre-registration details.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “EES represents an important step towards smarter, more secure borders for Europe. But implementation must be practical, coordinated and traveller focused. If lengthy delays become accepted practice, travellers will look elsewhere. Europe cannot afford to compromise its competitiveness or the experience it offers millions of visitors. We encourage European Commissioners to work closely with industry to ensure the system delivers on its promise of better borders without creating unintended barriers to travel.”
That is the point. Security and welcome should not be rivals. Europe has sold charm, culture and ease for centuries. It would be a bold move, and not a wise one, to make its newest attraction a queue.
By: Jason Smith – © 2026.
Read Time: 2 minutes.
Author Bio:
Jason Smith didn’t learn travel from textbooks. He learned it in airports, taxis and hotel lobbies, watching the business unfold long before he played his own part. Half American, half Asian, he grew up around the quiet workings of tourism, where people come and go, and stories rarely stand still.
Bangkok came first, then formal study, then a career that carried him through Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Each place left something behind. In the end, Thailand felt like home, and I took on a senior role in hotel sales.
Then everything stopped. Borders shut, planes grounded, and Jason found himself back in America with time to reflect.
Now at Global Travel Media, he writes travel as it really is, not polished, not perfect, but human, and all the better for it.
