The History of the European Travel Commission 1948-2018

In 1945, when Europe emerged from the most devastating war the world has ever seen, a host of visionary tourism experts in Europe and the US realised tourism’s potential contribution to the reconstruction of the continent. The West European National Tourist Organisations created the European Travel Commission in 1948 to advocate the importance of tourism for prosperity and peace. More concretely, as one of several new organisations involved in post-war European reconstruction, the ETC produced new knowledge about European tourism, promoted travel to the continent from other parts of the world, and fought red tape wherever it saw impediments to travellers’ mobility and tourism development. Seventy years down the road, the ETC remains as relevant as ever. For 70 years, the ETC has been a key institution in European tourism, sharing knowledge, coordinating efforts across borders, and connecting government and industry stakeholders. This book is thus about an organisation that has played, and continues to play, a crucial role in shaping contemporary European tourism.