Highlighting Tour Operators’ Concerns at the EU Commission
In October 2024, representatives from the Initiative for Neutral Search held a constructive workshop with the European Commission to raise critical concerns about Alphabet’s (Google’s) role in the evolving digital landscape for tour operators.
The meeting focused on the growing impact of Alphabet’s dominance in the Things-To-Do sector—particularly through its use of ad carousels, booking modules, and pseudo pages—practices that many in the industry believe conflict with the principles of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These tactics risk disintermediating Europe’s cultural custodians—its tour operators—while eroding brand visibility, compressing offerings, and reducing transparency in digital advertising.
We were proud to present these issues alongside a coalition of direct suppliers from across Europe, including Crown Tours (Italy), Flagship Amsterdam (Netherlands), Venice City Tours (Italy), Bleu Evasion (France), and A La Française (France).
The meeting was an important step forward. We thank the European Commission for engaging directly with our sector and for recognizing the essential role of tour operators in Europe’s cultural and economic fabric.
Together, we continue to advocate for a fairer digital marketplace—one where sustainable growth, diversity of offerings, and consumer trust are preserved.