New research commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warns that prolonged border delays linked to the rollout of Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) could put up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk from four of Europe’s most important source markets, including Canada.
The analysis, based on a survey of more than 2,500 travellers from the UK, US, Canada and Australia, found that if travellers face regular border waits of three to four hours when entering the Schengen Area, around one-third would become much less likely to travel to Schengen or would choose not to visit at all.
Applying these findings to 2026 visitor forecasts suggests that up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending could be at risk should significant delays become a persistent feature of the traveller experience.
The WTTC says the findings highlight a critical challenge for European destinations as they introduce EES.
While travellers broadly support stronger, more modern border controls, it adds that their willingness to visit Europe declines sharply when faced with the prospect of lengthy and unpredictable queues.
“This underscores how ineffective queue management at border crossing points can have a direct negative impact on the overall traveller experience,” says the WTTC.
Among respondents, 39% of UK travellers said they would be much less likely to travel with a three hour or greater delay scenario, followed by 33% of travellers from both the United States and Canada, and 27% from Australia.
“The introduction of EES is an important step forward in modernising Europe’s borders and strengthening security,” Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC. “Our research clearly shows that travellers support digital and biometric border systems and understand the long-term benefits they can deliver.
“(However), as with any major transformation, there will inevitably be teething problems. The challenge now is not whether EES should proceed, but how governments, border authorities and the Travel & Tourism sector work together to ensure implementation is as smooth as possible.”
She continues, “The good news is that solutions already exist. By making greater use of digital pre-registration tools, improving traveller communications and ensuring operational readiness at border crossing points, Europe can reduce friction and deliver the seamless experience travellers expect.”
While the scenario analysis highlights the potential consequences of disruption, the research also found strong underlying support for EES. Sixty-five per cent of respondents support the system after learning about it, and only 6% are very negative towards the use of biometric border controls.
Travellers identified stronger border security (57%), quicker processing on future trips (52%) and greater confidence in border controls (43%) as the system’s most important benefits.
However, awareness remains low. More than half of travellers (55%) have heard little or nothing about EES, while 49% do not know what will be required of them when entering or exiting the Schengen Area.
Key Survey Findings
- 65% support EES after learning about it
- 55% have little or no awareness of EES
- 49% do not know what will be required of them when travelling
- Only 6% are very negative towards biometric border controls
- 87% are willing to accept some disruption if future travel becomes smoother
- 33% would avoid the Schengen area if queues regularly exceed three hours
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