Travel to Europe This Summer: Possible or Not

As Europe is starting to see a decrease in the number of infections, many EU countries have decided to relax some of their precautionary measures, related to entry bans and travel restrictions, which were taken in a bid to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

Regarding the lifting of measures, some EU countries are still sceptical whether this is the right decision or not,  as it could lead Europe to a second wave of the Coronavirus,

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised concerns about several EU countries, which have been highly affected by the virus, that they may be lifting restrictions too soon, asserting that this could lead to a deadly resurgence of the infection.

As the Coronavirus pandemic causes global economic devastation, the tourism industry has been highly affected and damaged as well. Not only in the southern European states bordering the Mediterranean, but in Germany too.

The EU Commission has estimated that cruise companies will be hit the hardest, with a 90 per cent loss. During this year, the travel industry is expected to drop in bookings of package tours of up to 70 per cent.

A total of 10 per cent of economic output (GDP) is generated by the tourism industry in the European Union. In some countries like Greece or Malta, the share of the travel industry in GDP is even higher at 20-25 per cent.

As per Spain, it is estimated that it generates about €145 billion ($157 billion) in the tourism sector, while German hotels and tour operators generate around €240 billion a year, according to the EU Commission,

Chief Executive of TUI AG Fritz Joussen- the world’s biggest tourism group- urged the EU to lift travel restrictions that have been imposed in a bid to halt the spread of Coronavirus outbreak.

Joussen also advised the European Union to develop a timetable to see travel reinstated across the bloc and “make holidays possible in 2020.”

He said that  Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Spain are making progress towards reopening resorts.

Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, who chaired the recent Council of the European Union meeting, stressed that he expects that Northern Europeans will travel south during the summer season despite the Coronavirus outbreak.

He said that a common plan for the reconstruction of tourism was needed, adding that there should be a common health concept which would allow for a “Coronavirus health passport” to be issued to tourists and tour operators.

According to Malta’s Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, there are risks, but they need to be managed.

Regarding the current tourism situation, Germany’s Government Commissioner for Tourism, Thomas Bareiss, said that it is more likely that Germans will stay in their own country or region this year, adding that “It is rather unlikely that German tourists will travel to Spain or Greece in summer.

As for now,  he stressed that no one could say when and how the borders will reopen for travel.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry Heiko Maas has decided that a strict warning against global travel would remain in place “until further notice,” but not before June 14.

Minister of the Interior of France, Christophe Castaner ensured that the borders within the European Union would remain closed on Monday, May 11, and this, “until further notice”.

“If derogations for workers who live in France and work in Germany, Luxembourg or Spain will be authorized, we will not lift all of the borders,” he pointed out.

According to him, from May 11, the government will work “both at European level and at the same time with each of the neighbouring countries to find the best solutions with a principle of reciprocity.

“Our objective is to have a European doctrine to accompany the opening of the borders, but even after May 11, we will have intra-European borders which will remain closed,” added the Minister of the Interior.

He said that rules would apply “until further notice in the Schengen area and this will depend on the epidemiological evolution of our neighbouring countries “.