While some European countries are already preparing the arrival of their tourists, Spain still has not given a date for the reopening of its borders and the resumption of flights. The Minister of Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera and Dr. Fernando Simón indicated yesterday that foreign tourism could return to our country in July.

The sector asks for a date now, so that tourists can organize themselves, and so that travel agencies and airlines are also preparing. "You have to organize the packages and put planes to work, and for that you need forecasting, you don't do it overnight, " explains one industry expert.

The Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, yesterday encouraged the airlines by assuring that he will take measures against which, according to this department, they are not informing their clients about the possibility that they have of the money of the tickets they bought before being returned to them. that the pandemic broke out and that they have not been able to enjoy.

"The companies are making the reimbursements, but the amount is so enormous that it is materially impossible to do it in the seven days that the law establishes," Javier Gándara, president of the Association of Airlines (ALA), assures this newspaper. "Any inconvenience or inflexibility that may jeopardize the start of the air sector is a stick on the wheel to activate tourism, " says an expert in the sector.

With fleets stopped since the crisis erupted, airlines face serious liquidity problems. Some only have to last two or three months and partly it is thanks to the money entered by these pre-sold tickets. From the sector they maintain that if they had to reimburse the amount of the same, many companies would fail.

Undesirable delays

"There are undesirable delays, but as there are also delays in other sectors, in SEPE, for example, because we are in an exceptional situation," says Gándara.

Last week the European Commission allowed companies to exchange these tickets for bonds to be used in the future, but asked them for flexibility in the changes (that the flight can be made on another date at a similar time or can be done by someone else, who is transferable). He also noted that ultimately, if the consumer refuses to accept the voucher, airlines are required to pay them back in the seven days set by law.

Consumption believes that some companies are not informing customers that they have this possibility, and are simply offering them the voucher, something denied by ALA, who insist that returns are being made at the rate they can.

"Both the alternative bond and the right to reimbursement must appear in a clear and accessible way in the information of the airlines ", points out Consumption, which plans to exercise "the action of cessation against companies that do not comply with the rules," said in a statement. . In other words, it will take legal measures to compel them to do so. Sources in the airline sector believe that Consumption does not even have jurisdiction over this issue, since it corresponds to Transport.

So far since the health crisis, more than 400,000 flights have been canceled and in Easter alone, a total of 75,000. Multiplying this by the cost of the ticket "is unaffordable, since there are almost 35 million customers," emphasizes Gándara.

Starting the air sector is essential for international tourism to return to our country, as 80% of foreigners arrive by plane. The tourism sector calls for Spain to incorporate the "entry and exit protocols for tourists" to prepare for this hypothetical arrival, which has not yet been dated. Let it be known, for example, if they will have to be tested at the airport of origin or destination, or if they have to fill out health forms.

“An image is being given that Spain does not open borders and we are staying behind. We need to know when flights can resume. If no date is given, the social drama for the summer will be incalculable, "these sources point out.

TOURISM TOUR

Yesterday, Teresa Ribera, placed in July the return of foreign tourism to Spain "in safe conditions." The director of the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies, Fernando Simón, said that one must be cautious when affirming that foreign tourism may return in July and said that zero risk does not exist.

"Other countries, with caution, have already announced a date for the opening of tourism ... Is it that the leaders of France, Germany, Portugal or Greece are irresponsible for having done so? Or is it that we are going to slow down, "regret these sources, who believe that it is the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and not the ministers, who has to give a specific date. They think it should be June 15, which is when restrictions on movement end (until then only essential trips can be made), or at the latest on June 30.

«Teresa Ribera talks about July but we don't know if it is from the 5th or the 25th ... There are weeks apart. Getting to the end would mean missing three-quarters of the summer season. We need a unique voice that gives a unique message, "these sources point out.

They regret that from Spain "only deterrent messages are being launched" at the international tourist. For example, they say that there is a hotel company that after the 14-day quarantine announced by the Government to people arriving from abroad, saw the cancellations of reservations that had been anticipated tripling in less than 48 hours. At the same time, some companies with a presence in competing countries "are seeing an increase in reserves in these areas".

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  • Spain
  • Teresa Ribera
  • Alberto Garzón
  • Portugal
  • Pedro Sánchez
  • Greece
  • France
  • Fernando Simón
  • European Comission
  • Germany

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