When can you travel again? And where? And how? The issues are many for the tourism industry around the EU, which has been devastatingly hit by member states' restrictions to curb the spread of the corona virus.

So far, there are no given answers to give. Everything will depend on the continued development of the disease.

- In the coming weeks, we will work with other EU countries and the European Commission to work out how summer tourism can be made possible again. The decisive factor is a constant look at infection rates and the evaluation of health data, Austria's Minister of Tourism Elisabeth Köstinger told the APA news agency since the EU countries' tourism managers discussed the crisis in a web meeting on Monday.

“A good opportunity for the Member States to discuss the situation and initiate cooperation on nose steps. The tourism and hospitality industry is largely made up of small and medium-sized companies and from a Swedish perspective we are happy to see general investments and support for this type of company, ”says the Swedish representative at the meeting, State Secretary Emil Högberg.

Hope for July

The tourism industry is huge in the EU and accounts for ten per cent of the Member States' total GDP and twelve per cent of all jobs. Many companies now run the risk of going bankrupt when hotels and restaurants are empty.

-What is at stake is the survival of all businesses, from creperies to the three-star (Michelin restaurants), French star chef Philippe Etchebest tells AFP after a meeting with politicians and businessmen last Friday.

The biggest is the nervousness of the big tourist countries in the south. In Greece, tourism accounts for 20 percent of GDP. Foreign guests visiting have been one of few economic pleasures for a decade full of unemployment and austerity.

-We've already lost three months. Now we hope to get started at least the last four: July to October, says hotel owner Manolis Giannoulis in Crete to the Reuters news agency.

Corridors?

Several EU countries have launched the idea of ​​“tourist corridors” to accommodate travelers from at least the nearest neighboring countries. At the same time be warned to hurry on too fast.

"It will be extremely important to include epidemiologists when conditions are set and measures are taken to ensure the safety of tourists," states the EU Presidency Croatia in a press release after Monday's meeting.