Making Tourism Work Within the City’s Mobility System

EU Urban Mobility Observatory Session at the European Week of Regions and Cities 

Tourism brings people, activity and spending to cities. It also adds demand to streets and, public transport systems, sometimes in places or at times when networks are already under pressure. The planning question is how to make destinations work for visitors without making everyday journeys harder for residents.

A session on the topic organised by the EU Urban Mobility Observatory at the European Week of Regions and Cities on 14 October 2026, brought together perspectives from transport authorities, regional representatives, academia and consultancy.

For Rupprecht Consult, the discussion in Brussels pointed to a practical answer: treat tourism as part of the city’s mobility system, and plan for it across the full SUMP process.

The session was moderated by Keji Alex Adunmo, policy coordinator for sustainable mobility at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. Speakers included Jeannette Axisa from Malta’s Transport Authority; Françoise Guaspare from the Île-de-France representation to the EU, who shared findings from the Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) and regional practices; Nina Nesterova professor at Breda University of Applied Sciences; and Wolfgang Backhaus managing director of Rupprecht Consult.

Three planning priorities for cities were identified during the session

1. Follow the journey, not just the destination

A visitor’s mobility needs begin before they arrive at a touristic attraction. They include getting to the destination, travelling between accommodation and places of interest, reaching transport hubs and completing the final part of a trip.

That means tourism should be considered at every stage of a SUMP: when assessing current conditions, setting objectives, choosing measures, putting them in place and checking their effects.

SUMPs also need to account for seasonal changes in demand and the mobility needs of residents.

This wider view matters beyond central districts. Attractions in peri-urban areas can generate significant travel demand, and their connections to public transport can determine whether visitors have a practical alternative to private vehicles.

2. Turn information into timely responses

Tourism, transport and public authorities each hold information that can help explain how people move. Bringing those sources together can help cities:

• spot pressure points across routes, stations and attractions;

• prepare for seasonal peaks before services become overloaded;

• adjust transport services as demand changes; and

• spread visitor flows more evenly across a destination.

Good data is only useful when authorities have the capacity to interpret it and act on it. Staff need the skills to assess evidence and choose measures that fit local conditions. The session identified capacity building as an ongoing need, with artificial intelligence as a potential source of support.

Demand can also shift quickly. Influencers and changes in visitor interest may bring sudden attention to places. Climate change and other short-term pressures may disrupt transport systems, which needs to be accounted for when planning measures & infrastructures to ensure they remain resilient over time. Regular monitoring gives authorities a chance to adapt services, visitor information and management measures as patterns change.

Information for visitors is part of this response. Clear, multilingual signage, along with continuous communication, can help people navigate unfamiliar networks and choose sustainable travel options.

3. Give collaboration and funding a clear structure

Tourism mobility crosses organisational boundaries. Tourism bodies, public authorities, transport operators and urban planners need to agree on shared priorities and understand how their decisions affect one another.

A designated lead authority can bring these groups together and keep coordination moving through the SUMP cycle. Early communication helps set expectations, particularly when organisations have different responsibilities, resources and objectives.

Cities also need to decide how measures will be funded. The session considered whether tourism revenues, including visitor taxes, could contribute to transport improvements and more affordable public transport. Any such approach depends on clarity about who pays for each measure and how funding will continue over time.

A shared benefit for visitors and residents

Tourism mobility is not a separate planning issue. Measures that help visitors reach destinations can also support the wider transport network - provided they are designed alongside residents’ everyday needs.

The forthcoming SUMP reference document on tourism will offer practitioners tools, methods and examples to apply in different local contexts. Its development is an opportunity to make tourism a more consistent part of mobility planning: from understanding demand and coordinating stakeholders to funding implementation.

Another session on the topic will be held at the POLIS Conference. Stay tuned!