European Tourism Futures Institute

What European Tourism Futures Institute does

European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) is a research institute founded in 2009 and headquartered in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, operating as part of Stenden University of Applied Sciences ('Stenden ETFI'). It specializes in futures research and scenario planning for the leisure and tourism sector, claiming to be the only expertise centre in Europe applying scenario planning specifically to leisure and tourism research. The institute's underlying capability is a scenario planning methodology that examines future changes in the sector and translates them into advice on innovative visions, concepts, revenue models, and strategies. Through its affiliation with Stenden, ETFI draws on professors, research-lecturers, and students to produce both applied and academic research outputs.

ETFI serves four primary customer segments: industry associations, government authorities, tourism businesses, and educational institutions. Its revenue is generated through three core professional service lines: tailor-made research (Vision & Strategy, Destination Management, Market Intelligence), academic research (collaborative scholarly work and student projects), and Keynotes & Training (speaking engagements at international events). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The institute also publishes the Journal of Tourism Futures, an academic journal and membership offering that doubles as a thought leadership channel. Distribution is direct-to-client through professional service engagements, with geographic focus on Europe.

The institute reaches its audience through content marketing (blog, Journal, newsletters), professional social channels (LinkedIn, YouTube), and events. Strategic partnerships include Stenden University of Applied Sciences, the Knowledge Network of Dutch DMOs, and the European Congress of Municipalities (ECM). Revenue, funding, ownership structure, and headcount detail are not publicly disclosed, and no M&A or product commercialization beyond professional services is on record.

Name

European Tourism Futures Institute

Legal name

European Tourism Futures Institute

Website

https://etfi.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) is a Netherlands-based research institute applying scenario planning and futures research to the European leisure and tourism sector, serving industry associations, government authorities, tourism businesses, and educational institutions through tailor-made research, academic collaborations, and keynotes and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Research and Consulting

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tourism Trade & Services Exports Development (BPADAMAO)

Keywords

• Futures research consulting
• Scenario planning services
• Tourism strategy research
• Leisure sector analysis
• Applied research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeuwarden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Services: Tailor-made research and academic research services delivered to industry associations, government authorities, businesses and education. Creates resilient policies, strategies and actions for the leisure and tourism industry.
2. Keynotes & Training: High-level speakers deliver research-based insights at international events, providing training and keynote presentations for resilience in leisure and tourism.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) is an expertise centre specialising in futures research and scenario planning for the leisure and tourism industry. The institute delivers tailor-made research projects, academic research, and keynotes & training services to industry associations, government authorities, tourism businesses, and educational institutions, and publishes the Journal of Tourism Futures.

Product overview

European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) offers a portfolio of research and advisory services centered on futures studies and scenario planning for the leisure and tourism sector. The core offerings consist of three integrated service lines: Tailor-made research (customized policy and strategy development), Academic research (collaborative scientific research with universities), and Keynotes & Training (speaking engagements and professional development). Supporting these are the Journal of Tourism Futures (an academic publication), a Project archive, Student Projects, Tourism experts directory, and Client services. The institute positions itself as the only expertise centre in Europe applying scenario planning specifically to leisure and tourism research, providing organizations with concrete advice on anticipating developments through innovative visions, concepts, revenue models, and strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of Tourism Futures: Scientific journal publishing research on tourism futures

Products and services

• Tailor-made research
• Academic research
• Keynotes & Training
• Journal of Tourism Futures

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stenden University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerETFI operates as part of Stenden University of Applied Sciences, combining academic research capabilities with practical industry applications. This institutional partnership provides access to professors, research-lecturers and students for delivering scientifically proven solutions.
• Knowledge Network of Dutch DMOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dutch Destination Management Organizations through the Knowledge Network. Students gained insights through focus groups with network members regarding value measurement in tourist information centers, exploring economic, social and emotional value metrics.
• European Congress of Municipalities (ECM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with European Congress of Municipalities for collaborative projects including focus group research on tourist information centers. Jointly exploring value co-creation metrics and KPIs for tourism stakeholders.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Phocuswright: Phocuswright is a leading travel industry research firm producing subscription research, forecasts, and custom consulting. Direct comparable to ETFI on business model and tourism research methodology targeting industry buyers.
• HotStats: HotStats provides monthly profit-and-loss benchmarking and analytics for hotels and tourism operators across Europe. Comparable on serving European tourism performance data and applied research to operators and DMOs.
• Tourism Economics: Tourism Economics provides economic forecasts, scenario modeling, and applied research for tourism destinations globally. Closely comparable to ETFI on scenario planning and tourism forecasting methodology.
• Skift: Skift produces subscription research, reports, and forecasts on travel industry trends, including a research arm and Skift Forum events. Similar content-and-research business model targeting travel industry professionals.
• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): WTTC publishes the influential Economic Impact Reports and forward-looking research on global travel and tourism. Closely comparable to ETFI on a research-and-foresight business model targeting government and industry stakeholders.
• STR (CoStar Group): STR provides global hotel and tourism performance benchmarking, data, and research. Comparable as a subscription-anchored tourism research and data provider serving industry and government clients.
• European Travel Commission (ETC): ETC represents European national tourism boards and produces pan-European tourism intelligence and long-term research. Closest regional peer to ETFI's European tourism research and policy focus.
• UNWTO (UN Tourism): UN World Tourism Organization produces global tourism intelligence, applied research, and policy guidance for member states. Comparable to ETFI in delivering applied tourism research and foresight, though at global scale rather than European.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company (Travel & Tourism practice): McKinsey's travel practice serves global tourism clients on strategy, transformation, and foresight. Larger generalist competitor with the scale and brand that can displace ETFI on enterprise RFPs and policy mandates.
• Deloitte (Travel, Hospitality & Services practice): Deloitte's travel and hospitality practice provides strategy consulting including futures and scenario work, as part of a much broader advisory portfolio. Competes with ETFI for the same enterprise tourism strategy engagements, but from a much larger generalist base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StendenETFI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-tourism-futures-institute
• Facebookfacebook.com/nhlstendenetfi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about European Tourism Futures Institute