Spatial Dynamics of Tourism Sustainability in EU Member States

ABSTRACT

This study introduces a synthetic indicator of tourism sustainability for the EU, bridging the gap between institutional monitoring and academic research. By applying the PROMETHEE II method to rank the 27 Member States in 2019 and 2023, the research transforms static data into a dynamic roadmap of post‐pandemic recovery. The findings reveal a “two‐speed Europe” with significant national divergence; specifically, Denmark, Germany, and Luxembourg emerge as the overall leaders in the aggregated sustainability index for 2023, while the Baltics excel socially and Mediterranean nations environmentally. Notably, spatial analysis confirms that sustainability is not an isolated phenomenon. Global Moran's Indices reveal a high and positive spatial autocorrelation across the national destinations. Local LISA mapping further detects significant, localized clusters of high and low performance. These geographical patterns suggest the importance of spatial proximity. Ultimately, effective EU policymaking requires comprehensive scientific metrics that respect the distinct structural characteristics of each destination.