Hopes for the tourism sector to have a moderate recovery this summer have been dashed after the UK's decision to impose a quarantine on people arriving from Spain and France's recommendation not to travel to Catalonia. The sector calculates that some 8,000 million euros are at risk , which Spain could lose in August and September due to the restrictions of these countries.

The consequences of these decisions are important, as the United Kingdom is our main source market. Last year three out of every four tourists who visited our country were English. France is also, along with Germany, the country that contributes the most tourists.

"It is one more jug of cold water and we do not understand the urgency of this decision, which has been made hastily and without consultation, it seems as if Spain is going to enter a third world war tomorrow," says José Luis Zoreda, vice president of the Alliance. for Tourist Excellence, Exceltur.

The executive regrets that a "media alarmism has been created, almost anticipating when the second wave would come." Norway has also imposed a 10-day quarantine on people arriving from Spain and Belgium has recommended not to travel.

These quarantines "can become the tip of a dying season," regrets Zoreda. Revenue from British tourists totaled 4,572 million euros between August and September, according to data from last year. The French left 2,300 million in the same period; the Dutch, 935 million; the Belgians, 612 million, and the Norwegians, 283 million.

Cancellations

The sector anticipates cancellations in already made reservations and regrets that others that could have been made are probably no longer going to be executed. From Fetave, the Spanish Federation of Travel Agencies, regret that this news came when "some recovery in demand" had been seen.

"Interest these days is falling, and the bad thing is the reputation for Spain, because it has a deterrent effect for the rest of the countries," says César Gutiérrez, from Fetave.

From Exceltur they believe that the procedures in the European Union have failed "to manage under what conditions one was going to travel in Europe". According to Zoreda, the Union should have agreed on procedures to avoid these unilateral decisions.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has also criticized London's decision to impose a quarantine. He noted that "these unilateral measures can create confusion and bring unnecessary consequences."

Impact on the airline sector

"The pandemic tests us and shows that we are stronger when we act together and not isolated," says UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, who a few weeks ago traveled to the Canary Islands to support safe tourism in the archipelago.

The manager has asked for cooperation and that the measures taken "both individually and jointly, be reasoned and proportional."

The airline sector is another of the main affected. From ALA, the Association of Airlines, remember that demand is being low: there are 20% of passengers compared to last year's figures.

The supply of flights is 40% and it was expected to reach 50% in August, but, according to Javier Gándara, president of ALA, some airlines could reorganize their programming after the UK decision to impose quarantine.

For the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), there is a risk that "other governments adopt similar solutions in a little thoughtful way and without obeying the real situation we have in Spain."

"We must ask that decisions be taken based on objective criteria for the evolution of health security and hold reckless measures accountable that can cause serious damage to tourism," says Jorge Marichal, president of CEHAT.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Spain
  • UK
  • France
  • London
  • Catalonia
  • Canary Islands
  • Germany
  • Norway
  • Belgium

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