Ireland and Britain have been hardest hit in Europe by a dramatic reduction in tourism since the September 11th attack on America, a European Commission report revealed today.
The volume of visitors to both countries from America, Japan and the Middle East has dropped by one third, although some EU destinations, including Spain and Portugal, have hardly been affected at all.
The inevitable downturn in air travel has been matched by a huge drop in cultural and sightseeing trips, as well as the widespread cancellation of business conferences and "incentive travel" packages, the report said.
EU capitals and major cities are far worse hit than the regions, but Ireland and the UK are feeling the pinch most because of the traditionally high volume of American and also Japanese visitors.
The impact on the cruise industry in Europe is equally severe, says the report, with countries with established cruise industries, or having ports on cruise liner routes, finding business has halved since September 11.
The report to EU governments and the European Parliament marks the start of a Commission bid to talk up the EU's vital tourism sector in the wake of September 11.
Europe is the most visited tourist region in the world with the "greatest diversity and density" of visitor attractions on any continent, boasts the report.
EU tourism involves two million businesses, employing eight million jobs, and represents 5% of both GDP and employment.
For the time being, the impact on European tourism is "unambiguously negative", prompting EU enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen to announce a new effort with member states and the tourism industry to revive the industry's fortunes.
He said: "There is very little that can be done to remedy the immediate impact, but the proper long-range response is sustained collective drive to restore consumer confidence in the economy and in Europe as a safe tourism destination.
"For a vulnerable sector like tourism, we have to ensure that it can harness its potential to deliver jobs and growth."
The Commission's new initiative will be discussed at talks between EU consumer ministers in Brussels later this month.