For travel agencies, "this summer will be better than last summer"

With the Covid crisis and the many restrictions around the world, travel agencies have been operating in slow motion for many months.

Industry professionals are banking on a gradual recovery from this summer, assured Europe 1 Richard Vainopoulos, president of the TourCom travel agency network.

INTERVIEW

The tourism sector is one of the most affected by the coronavirus crisis.

With border closures and health restrictions in many countries, travel agencies have been sluggish for months.

But with vaccination campaigns progressing around the world, the sector is banking on a gradual recovery in activity by this summer.  

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"In the summer we risk having a lot of departures. There are several European countries such as Portugal, Greece or Malta which are opening up. The United States will also certainly open up, especially for the party. national of July 4. France and other countries will then have to be forced to open up. I think the summer will be better than last summer, "said Richard Vainopoulos, president of the agency network TourCom travel plans, Sunday noon on Europe 1. 

Towards a stronger recovery from next fall

The outlook for recovery is even more optimistic for next fall and for the holiday season, which should coincide with broad vaccination coverage in Western countries.

"The recovery will be really effective around September-October, because at that time the vaccinations will take place in greater numbers. We will certainly have a real recovery in December, for Christmas and New Year's Day" , predicts Richard Vainopoulos. 

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"There we will have a boom because a lot of people need to get away and go."