The tourism sector in the EU is in full crisis as borders are closed and people are urged to stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The European Commission still hopes to get travel started already this summer and promises a special summit this autumn on the future of the sector.
In an appearance before the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton is keeping his fingers crossed for a European holiday - also this year.
”I work daily with other commissioners to facilitate travel as quickly as possible,” says Breton.
”"I really hope that we can start traveling again this summer, despite the restrictions. In France, for example, there are six million Franco-Italians who want to go home and visit this summer," explains the Frenchman.
However, nothing can be promised yet.
”Of course, this is first and foremost a health issue. It is a battle that we have not won yet. We know that we will have to live in quarantine for a while longer,” says Breton.
In recent weeks, the EU's various bodies, together with the member states, have presented all kinds of rescue packages and initiatives to address the economic effects of the corona crisis. Tourism is one of the worst-hit industries, with many companies on the brink of collapse.
”We are talking about people behind these numbers, women and men who are entrepreneurs who often work on a small scale and often have purely family relationships with their companies and employees,” Breton emphasizes.
At the same time, he is flagging that the corona crisis needs to be followed by a changed tourism - away from the days of mass tourism.
”"Covid-19 is accelerating a change that would have come in any case. We must ensure that we have sustainable tourism. There will be a clear before and after," says Breton, promising a future plan this fall.
”"We will hold a tourism summit in September or October to be able to make an action plan for sustainable tourism," says the Internal Market Commissioner in Brussels.
Source: TT
