France Partners With Germany and Other EU Nations to Transform Europe’s Rail Tourism Landscape As 74% Demand Green Travel

EU countries including France and Germany are considering more sustainable forms of tourism after the results of a continent-wide survey showed most people were in favor of more high-speed rail. The study was paid for by the CER and polled 5,048 people in all 27 European Union countries. The poll should help the European Commission create a policy on sustainable tourism. Many respondents said they believed rail could help reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism industry. The survey showed many travelers wanted to take the train, but other factors such as price and the time it takes to get to your final destination made travelers opt to take other means of transportation.

The survey showed many travelers wanted to take trains if that meant they could travel to their final destination in a more sustainable way. This showed many travelers were in favor of more sustainable means of transport. However, many people say they are not prepared to sacrifice convenience to take the train.

Europe Shows Strong Support For Rail As A Sustainable Tourism Solution

Rail transport is gaining importance as Europe looks for ways to create a more sustainable tourism model. The latest survey shows that a large majority of EU citizens believe trains should play a bigger role in future travel.

Among respondents:

The combined support of 74% demonstrates widespread recognition that rail can contribute significantly to reducing the environmental impact of tourism. Southern Europe recorded the highest level of support at 79%, driven by strong backing in countries such as Italy at 79% and Spain at 75%. Central and Eastern Europe followed with 75%, while Northern Europe recorded 69%.

The results underline that rail has become an important part of Europe’s sustainability conversation. From high-speed routes connecting major cities to regional services supporting smaller destinations, trains are increasingly viewed as a critical element of future tourism planning. However, public support alone does not automatically translate into increased rail usage. The survey shows that travellers still consider practical factors before choosing transport.

France Germany Italy And Spain Highlight Different Rail Travel Priorities

The survey reveals important differences between major European tourism markets. France and Germany remain central to Europe’s transport network, with both countries operating extensive rail systems. However, travellers in these markets continue to focus strongly on price and journey efficiency. France recorded one of the highest concerns about travel cost, with 76% of respondents identifying total journey cost as an important factor when choosing transport. The country also showed strong attention to travel time, with 55% considering journey duration important. Germany also showed significant focus on journey speed, with 51% of respondents highlighting total travel time as a key factor.

Meanwhile, Italy and Spain demonstrated particularly strong support for rail tourism. Italy recorded 79% support for promoting rail transport, while Spain reached 75%. Both countries also showed high willingness to switch to trains if better connections become available. These differences demonstrate that European travellers share similar sustainability goals but have different expectations from rail services depending on their existing transport options, infrastructure and travel patterns.

Cost Comfort And Journey Time Remain More Important Than Climate Impact

The biggest challenge facing sustainable tourism is turning environmental awareness into real travel decisions. Although 74% of Europeans support rail as a sustainable tourism solution, the survey found that environmental impact ranks much lower than practical concerns.

The most important factors influencing transport decisions are:

Cost remains the strongest influence on traveller decisions. France recorded the highest sensitivity to price at 76%, followed by Italy at 61% and Poland at 59%. Comfort also plays a major role. Northern European travellers placed the highest importance on onboard experience at 61%, while Poland reached 59%.

Travel time remains another major consideration. Half of European travellers said journey duration affects their transport decisions, showing that rail operators must compete with other transport options through speed and efficiency. Environmental impact ranked fourth, with only 19% selecting it as a priority. The findings show that travellers support sustainable tourism but expect greener choices to deliver practical benefits. Lower fares, better schedules and improved passenger experiences will determine whether more tourists move towards rail.

65% Of Europeans Ready To Choose Trains If More Connections Become Available

One of the strongest signals from the survey is the potential for future rail tourism growth. Around 65% of Europeans said they would be willing to choose trains over other transport modes for leisure travel if more train connections were available. The result indicates that infrastructure limitations remain one of the biggest barriers preventing wider rail adoption.

The strongest willingness to switch was recorded in:

France recorded 56%, while Germany recorded 53%. The lower figures in France and Germany do not necessarily indicate lower interest in sustainable travel. Instead, travellers in established rail markets may have higher expectations regarding ticket prices, journey times and service quality.

Only 4% of Europeans said they already regularly use trains for tourism, while 31% said switching to rail was unlikely under current conditions. This creates a significant opportunity for policymakers and transport operators. Expanding cross-border routes, improving connections between regions and simplifying international ticketing could encourage more travellers to choose rail holidays.

Better Rail Connectivity Could Support Balanced Tourism Growth Across Europe

Rail expansion is not only about reducing emissions. It could also reshape how visitors move across Europe. Many European destinations face challenges caused by concentrated tourism demand in major cities and famous attractions. Better rail links could encourage visitors to explore smaller cities, rural areas and less crowded destinations.

A stronger European rail tourism network could support:

• Regional tourism development.
• Off-season travel opportunities.
• Rural destination growth.
• Reduced pressure on overcrowded tourism hotspots.

Improved rail access could allow travellers to combine several European destinations through sustainable journeys while supporting local tourism economies. For example, better connections between major hubs and secondary destinations could encourage visitors arriving in Paris, Berlin, Rome or Madrid to explore surrounding regions without depending on private vehicles or short-haul flights.

EU Pushes Policies To Make Sustainable Travel More Affordable

The survey has strengthened calls for policies that make green travel financially competitive. CER has highlighted several measures aimed at improving the position of rail within Europe’s transport system.

Key proposals include:

• Removing VAT on international rail passenger tickets.
• Reforming energy taxation affecting railway electricity.
• Applying the polluter-pays principle across transport sectors.

These measures aim to reduce the cost gap between rail and higher-emission transport options. The research shows that travellers are not rejecting sustainable choices. Instead, many are waiting for rail services that match their expectations on affordability and convenience. Making the greenest travel option the easiest and most affordable option could become a major factor in Europe’s tourism transformation.

High Speed Rail Expansion Could Shape Europe’s Next Tourism Chapter

The future of European rail tourism will also depend on expanding high-speed connections between countries and major cities. The EU Action Plan for a European High-Speed Rail Network aims to improve links between European capitals and strengthen international rail mobility.

A stronger high-speed rail network could provide:

• Faster connections between major tourism markets.
• More alternatives to short-distance flights.
• Easier multi-country travel experiences.
• Greater access to regional destinations.

The planned expansion could also contribute to long-term energy savings by reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based transport. For the tourism industry, high-speed rail could create a more connected Europe where travellers can move between destinations efficiently while reducing the environmental impact of their journeys.

Europe’s Rail Tourism Future Depends On Turning Support Into Action

What the EU-wide survey shows about tourism is clear. Rail options and sustainability in travel are welcomed by the public. Although public opinion is in favor of sustainable travel, especially by rail, the true test of public support will come from lifestyle improvements while using all means of transportation. Countries like France, Germany, Italy and Spain are quickly transforming their rail networks and planning improvements to other means of transportation. If these improvements are continued, rail networks will play a vital role in future European tourism.

While 74% of the public supports promotion of rail networks and 65% will consider rail travel if connections improve, the public clearly supports expansion and improvements of the rail system. Improvements to the rail network will allow connections across borders, and if aligned with the goals of the developing European Commission’s Sustainable Tourism strategy, improve and promote rail networks as a source of sustainable tourism and mobilize other means of transportation to support balanced tourism.