ОЦІНКА РОЛІ ТУРИЗМУ В ЕКОНОМІЦІ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОГО СОЮЗУ, ЙОГО ВПЛИВ НА ЗАЙНЯТІСТЬ ТА ВВП

Abstract

The article provides a detailed analysis of the role of tourism in the economy of the European Union, taking into account its contribution to the formation of the gross domestic product and ensuring employment. With the growing global importance of tourism, EU countries are actively using its potential to stimulate economic growth and increase incomes. The topic of the pandemic is closely related to the field of tourism, it was the cause of the biggest decline in indicators in this industry and still COVID-19 creates some difficulties and requires restrictions that directly affect consumers of the tourism product. At the same time, every year tourism acquires a broader meaning, new types and directions appear, travel agencies surprise with the variety of offers. In addition, every year a huge number of tourists cross state borders, in particular, the borders of European countries, contributing to this type of economic activity to be truly global. Given that tourists from EU countries comprise a substantial portion of the global tourism services market, examining the nuances of the European tourist services market's evolution, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, is of particular interest. The study is based on the analysis of statistical data that reflect the dynamics of the development of the tourism industry in the EU in recent years. The main parameters to which attention is drawn are the volumes of tourist flows, income from tourism and its impact on the labor market. The main conclusions of the study confirm the huge contribution of tourism to the economy of the EU countries. It also examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, which has suffered serious losses but at the same time has the potential for further recovery and development. The novelty of this research lies in analyzing the unique trends of the European tourism services market influenced by the COVID19 pandemic and proposing potential solutions to navigate the market crisis. The findings offer both theoretical insights and practical implications for the evolution of the European tourism market. These insights can be instrumental for future academic research, formulating projections, and devising strategies to overcome the challenges faced by the EU's tourism sector in the current landscape.