The European Union (EU) tourism ministers defended today that the sector should be a priority for Brussels in the future economic recovery plan, given the “negative impact” of covid-19, and called for changes to EU rules.
At a meeting held today by videoconference – and in which Portugal was represented by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques -, the heads of the 27 “described the measures taken so far by the Member States, individually or jointly, in order to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector and other related sectors “, having” stressed that tourism should be among the main priorities of the EU’s recovery plan “, which is being designed by the Community executive to trace the reconstruction of the European economy .
According to a statement released at the end of the distance meeting, the occasion also underlined the “importance of a harmonized solution for the reimbursement of travel packages, including‘ vouchers ’”.
And, “with regard to the legal framework for tour operators, the Commission was invited to work primarily towards a common EU approach that provides temporary flexibility and liquidity and ensures a fair balance of interests between tour operators and consumers” , says the EU Council in the press release.
The European Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, also participated in the meeting, who asked the Member States to “make maximum use” of the measures already made available by the Community executive for the various sectors of the economy.
“We will need quick action, pragmatism and creativity to recover and build a resilient and sustainable tourism industry,” said Thierry Breton, stressing the need to allocate “unprecedented funds to overcome this crisis”.
With European tourism stagnating due to restrictive measures taken by EU Member States to try to contain the spread of the pandemic (including limitations on travel between countries), this is one of the sectors most affected by covid-19, and also one of the most affected. it weighs on the Union’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (around 10%) and employment (12%). It is also responsible for 400 billion euros of annual revenue.
With 16.5% of the national GDP affected directly or indirectly by tourism, Portugal is being one of the Member States most affected by the stop in the sector.
According to a study by Oxford Economics, Portugal is even one of the European countries where international tourism falls the most this year due to the pandemic.
According to the study by this British consultant on the impacts of covid-19 on European tourism, which the Lusa agency had access to over the weekend and which is dated at the beginning of the month, seven million less international entries should be registered in Portugal this year. compared to 2019, equivalent to a 40% drop.
In percentage terms, Portugal is only surpassed in the reduction of visitors by Italy (with a decrease of 49%, less 31 million visitors) and by Spain (decrease of 42%, less 34 million visitors), which are the most affected by the pandemic, either in number of deaths or cases.
In terms of volume, the member state with the greatest drop in international tourist arrivals, according to the analysis by Oxford Economics, is France, with a drop of 40%, equivalent to 38 million fewer visitors compared to 2019.
Assuming that covid-19 affects European tourism for eight months, between periods of confinement and phased lifting of restrictions, this entity estimates a 39% drop in tourism travel across Europe in 2020, compared to the previous year. , equivalent to less 287 million international arrivals.
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