by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Mon June 8, 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is warning that Europe’s projected visitor spending and arrivals are at risk of declining due to the rollout of the region’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which has created hours-long delays at customs lines across Europe.
The new research was conducted in May 2026 and surveyed over 2,500 international travelers from around the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
It found that if travelers consistently had to wait three to four hours to enter the Schengen Area, around one-third would become much less likely to visit—or avoid visiting altogether. Thirty-nine percent of U.K. travelers said they’d be much less likely to visit if these issues persist, along with 33% of travelers from the U.S. and Canada, and 27% from Australia.
The region’s projected 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending this year could be at risk if the EES continues to cause long wait times at airports.
While the delays are a major hurdle, travelers are largely supportive of EES: 65% of global travelers support the system, with 57% supporting stronger border security, 52% supporting quicker processing times, and 43% expressing greater confidence in border control.
Yet knowledge about the system could be another major hurdle: 55% of travelers don’t even know what EES is, while 49% don’t know what’s required when entering or exiting the Schengen Area.
WTTC encourages countries rolling out EES to launch a coordinated communication campaign, provide step-by-step guidance for airlines, airports, tour operators and destinations, adopt the Travel to Europe pre-registration app and ensure operations are in place so that hours-long delays do not occur.
“Our research clearly shows that travelers support digital and biometric border systems and understand the long-term benefits they can deliver,” said President & CEO of WTTC, Gloria Guevara. “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.
“The good news is that solutions already exist,” Guevara continued. “By making greater use of digital pre-registration tools, improving traveler communications and ensuring operational readiness at border crossing points, Europe can reduce friction and deliver the seamless experience travelers expect.”
EES launched on April 10 with a rocky start; several airports across the Schengen Area reported hours-long delays, which Airlines for Europe called a “systemic failure” and urged a pause until the issues could be resolved.
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