RACHEL VILLAÉCIJA
Madrid
Monday, June 1, 2020 - 02:00
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Send by email
In the coming months, Europe faces one of the greatest challenges from a tourist point of view: the reactivation of activity in the midst of a pandemic, under safe conditions and in a context in which not all countries have the same situation. On this occasion, when negotiating in Europe, the weight of the economically strong over the weaker is deterred. Tourism powers such as Portugal or Greece are positioned as safer destinations than Germany or France.
Europe tries to articulate the mechanisms to be able to return to a space of free circulation without risks. In reality, almost everything is obstacles, derived from the pandemic, and trying to bring all common interests together is more difficult than ever , given that the epidemiological situation in each country has evolved differently.
Countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece or Germany have already stated their intention to open the borders to foreign tourism in July (Germany will open them progressively from June 15). Countries negotiate to establish what they call "tourist corridors", or safe routes, between countries or regions with a similar health situation . What it is about is that a citizen of a region of Germany where there are few infections can go to some area of Italy or Spain with a similar situation.
Single agreement
This poses problems, because it would mean isolating cities or regions (in Spain, Madrid or Barcelona, for example). In our country, for example, the sector does not see it feasible to reach a single free mobility agreement between all the states.
“ In the barely five weeks we have left to reach July, it is impossible to reach a single pact, the most viable way is to negotiate safe tourist routes , so that citizens living in regions with a similar health situation can move between them. It is not fair that because Madrid or London, for example, are risk areas, it is not possible to travel to the Balearic Islands, "point out sources in the sector.
The weight of tourism in Europe is enormous. The continent receives one out of every two tourists in the world. There are countries, such as France or Spain, that are among the main world destinations. Spain also leads the ranking of tourism competitiveness of the World Economic Fund.
In 2018, the sector contributed directly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the European Union with 3.9% and represented 5.1% of the total labor force (representing some 11.9 million jobs). If indirect jobs and the impact that this sector has on other economic activities (hospitality, for example) are taken into account, the contribution is even higher (it would represent 10.3% of GDP and 11.7% of employment total: 27.3 million workers, according to data from the European Parliament).
«The main problem is mobility, because tourism is based on two pillars: mobility and freedom of movement. Until this is not possible we cannot speak of a return to tourist activity, "these sources point out.
Mobility
For three weeks now, in Europe it has been about negotiating against the clock how to restore mobility to citizens. The European Commission addressed the issue two weeks ago and recommended that countries gradually open borders to return to business. Germany will do so from June 15, Italy will accept tourists as of this week and Greece will do the same in July. These countries have published a list of safe countries and will be able to receive citizens who have these passports. Spain, at the moment, is not in the aforementioned list.
"We are working to create a secure seal, there will be European coordination to define what these routes are without risk," says the president of the transport commission in the European Parliament, the French Karima Delli.
Europe is working on a map of safe destinations, which will be presented in the coming weeks. These routes do not have to be between countries, but the idea is that it be regionalized. For example, that a citizen of Seville can go on vacation to Florence, if both areas have security guarantees. The problem with this is that it is feared that there will be discrimination against areas that have not yet fully controlled the virus.
“In order not to miss the summer season, the most important thing now is to recover air connectivity. There are countries that are already negotiating certain routes between areas of different countries, which are safe, with some airlines or tour operators ", explain sources in the travel agency sector. These intermediaries move 50% of the flights and half of the reservations of the large hotel chains.
Planes
The airline sector is key in this return to mobility. In Spain, for example, 80% of tourists who visit us do so by plane. Most airlines have already announced that they will resume commercial travel starting in July. Until now, punctual flights have been carried out, but justified for essential reasons (cross-border workers, health workers, diplomats, repatriations ...). The idea is that from July you can fly around Europe without restrictions.
“Recovering air connectivity is the priority, that protocols are agreed so that tourists can circulate through airports, such as deciding, for example, whether to test at the origin or destination airports, or if They are going to take temperature controls and where ... », indicates an expert in the air sector.
MEPs have insisted that the tourism sector needs more support through targeted measures, funding, enhanced coordination at EU level and a tailor-made roadmap. Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, has acknowledged that tourism was the first sector affected by the coronavirus and is likely to be the one to recover later. "Tourism is our priority and we are trying to do everything possible with the available funds," he said. Despite this, "aid has not yet been approved in Europe for a sector that is vital for the Union's economy," says Karima Delli.
PROJECTS
The pandemic has caused many countries to rethink their more massive sun and beach tourism model. The European Parliament is granting aid to projects that promote sustainable tourism. For example, the EU funds finance a project for the creation of a bicycle touring route in the Strait Natural Park, in Cádiz, one of the most recently created, with three million euros .
Visitors focus on the spa and sports beaches. There are no facilities that allow the development of other activities such as bicycle touring and hiking, which would have a strong seasonal effect on the local economy.
On the island of Lanzarote, 48 million euros (85% financed by European funds) have been invested in the expansion of the Port of Playa Blanca. It consists of the reordering of the current dock and the creation of a new one, with the aim of segregating traffics and maneuvering areas for passenger and sports and fishing vessels.
"Now it is about promoting another type of tourism that is more sustainable and more responsible," says Delli.
Last week, Parliament asked the Commission to finalize the actions and financial support for the summer. They consider trust essential, "restoring it on travel and through concrete measures."
In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more- Europe
- Germany
- Greece
- European Parliament
- Italy
- GDP
- Madrid
- European Union
- France
- Balearics
- Barcelona
- Seville
- Portugal
- London
- economy
- tourism
Interview with the president of the BCELagarde: "This shock is unknown in peacetime, but the risk of the euro breaking is zero"
CoronavirusEurope writes a new chapter of the 'Covid era'
CoronavirusEurope returns to normal at the gates of summer: this is how swimming pools and hotels begin to open