Europe wants to save tourism after coronavirus

Text by: Myriam Berber

The European Commission presented, on Wednesday 13 May 2020, its aid plan for the tourism sector. Objective: to save the summer season and preserve jobs.

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The executive urges the 27 to reopen the borders this summer. "  This is not going to be a normal summer ... But if we all make efforts, the summer will not be completely lost for the tourism industry  ", said this Wednesday May 13, 2020 in Brussels, Margrethe Vestage, the Executive Vice-President of the Commission who calls for "  a gradual return of tourist activity in the EU countries  ", after the restrictive measures put in place to deal with the coronavirus.

A return from tourism, certainly, but supervised. The European executive advocates a progressive opening of the borders between the Member States, which have the same epidemiological profile and which have put in place similar preventive measures. The Commission will soon launch a website with real-time information on the situation at the borders, but also in each of the tourist regions.

Vouchers or reimbursement

Concretely, for the reimbursement of canceled flights and stays, the Commission recalls that "  Tour operators and airlines can offer vouchers to injured passengers  ". But European citizens have "a  fundamental right to a refund if they wish  ", as provided for by the European legislation in force. Letters will be sent to member states that violate this fundamental principle.

There is an emergency for Brussels. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an almost total cessation of travel around the world. Europe has 22 million fewer arrivals in March. In France and Spain, the world's number one and number two tourist destinations respectively, the number of tourists fell by 80%. The same is true for Greece, Portugal and Croatia, countries which have, however, been less bereaved by the coronavirus.

6.5 jobs threatened

Tourism in Europe is 10% of the EU's GDP and 27 million direct and indirect jobs. Today, 6.5 million jobs are threatened. Restaurants and hotels report a 50% drop in turnover. On the air side, the situation is also catastrophic. Airlines already in difficulty, are on the brink, with a drop of more than 80% of their revenues .

Travel agencies and tour operators also record heavy financial losses. The world's leading tour operator, the German TUI will cut 8,000 jobs out of the 70,000 it has worldwide. It is more than 10% of its workforce. Globally, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that the sector has already lost 74 billion euros over the first three months of the year.

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