Up to 41 Million European Visitor Arrivals at Risk if EES Border Delays Reach Three Hours, WTTC Analysis Warns

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released new research warning that prolonged border delays linked to the rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) could put 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending at risk from four major source markets: the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.

Border Delays Impact:
If queues regularly exceed 3–4 hours, about one-third of travellers would avoid Schengen destinations.

Market Sensitivity:
- 39% of UK travellers would be “much less likely” to visit.
- 33% of US and Canadian travellers would reconsider.
- 27% of Australians would avoid Schengen trips.

Support for EES:
- 65% support the system after learning about it.
- Only 6% are strongly negative about biometric border controls.
- 87% are willing to accept some disruption if future travel becomes smoother.

Awareness Gap:
- 55% have little or no awareness of EES.
- 49% don’t know what will be required when entering/exiting Schengen.

WTTC Recommendations
1. Accelerate adoption of the Travel to Europe app for digital pre-registration.
2. Coordinated communication campaigns in key source markets (UK, US, Canada, Australia).
3. Operational readiness at border points: fully functioning equipment, adequate staffing, streamlined processing for travellers with biometric data already on file.

Strategic Implication
This research underscores a delicate balance: travellers support modern digital borders but are highly sensitive to queue management and predictability. For Europe, the challenge is not whether EES should proceed, but how to ensure a seamless rollout that protects both security and visitor experience.

This fits into the broader travel ecosystem you’ve been tracking: while hotel groups (Dusit, Avani, Atmosphere Core, Anantara) are investing in wellness, sustainability, and MICE excellence, Europe’s border transformation shows how infrastructure and policy shifts can directly shape demand.