The tourism industry in Europe has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But despite the risk of the coronavirus, several EU countries are now opening up for tourist travel this summer. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, believes that it may be possible.

– I believe that we should be able to find smart solutions so that we can go on summer vacation, said Ursula von der Leyen on Portuguese TV.

She believes that it is possible to tailor solutions so that hygiene and social distancing requirements can be respected.

It was only a week ago that Ursula von der Leyen warned European citizens against booking holiday trips right now. A warning that was met with harsh criticism from the tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the corona pandemic.

The travel restrictions are costing the industry over ten billion kronor each month, according to the European Commission. Several EU countries are now trying to find solutions to get tourism going again. Austria's Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger proposed this weekend that tourists from certain EU countries, which have been better at limiting the spread of the infection, should be allowed to travel to Austria during the summer. She wants to see bilateral agreements with, for example, Germany.

The Czech Republic and Slovenia are in talks with Croatia about allowing their citizens to spend their holidays on Croatian beaches and avoid having to spend 14 days in quarantine. In Belgium, special passports are being proposed to visit the country's beaches - but only for Belgian citizens.

But the question now being asked is whether one may only benefit certain people – one's own citizens or citizens from selected EU countries – or whether it is discrimination.

– We have no answer to that today. We will come back, said European Commission spokesman Eric Malmer at a press conference yesterday.

Source: sverigesradio.se