Goodbye summer vacation or what is possible? Foreign Minister Maas dampens hopes of a quick return of tourism. There will be no full beach bars. Minister Müller sees the vacation opportunities somewhat more optimistically.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected hopes of a normal summer vacation without restrictions. “There will be no normal vacation season with full beach bars and full mountain huts this summer. That would not be responsible,” said the SPD politician after a video conference with his colleagues from Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein in Berlin.
In this context, he pointed out that all major events had been canceled by the end of August. However, Maas did not rule out that the borders would be reopened to tourists before summer and that vacation trips would be possible with certain restrictions. This is difficult to predict, he said. At the moment there are still restrictions on freedom of movement in many countries. “These are not prerequisites with which you can spend a relaxing holiday at all.”
Maas again advocated a European vote on how to proceed. In Germany there is a worldwide travel warning for tourists until May 3rd. At the end of April, a decision will be made as to how to proceed, said the Foreign Minister.
Minister Müller sees vacation opportunities in the Mediterranean region
German Development Minister Gerd Müller nevertheless hopes for a summer vacation: “Vacation in Germany can be possible again this summer,” the CSU politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “I also believe that there is a chance in the Mediterranean region – including North Africa.”
The travel association DRV warned not to write off trips in summer or to consider them possible only within Germany. Tourism is an important economic sector for North African countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, the minister said. A prerequisite for trips to the region are “functioning hygiene concepts according to European standards”, emphasized Müller.
DRV President Norbert Fiebig criticized that statements by politicians that summer vacation should be written off or that it was only possible in Germany were “in no way expedient”. Fiebig called for a “positive sign that travel will be possible again – of course taking appropriate hygiene and precautionary measures into account”.
A differentiated debate is necessary and not a “general swan song” for the summer vacation. “In order to get a minimum of planning security for companies in the travel industry – travel agencies as well as tour operators and everyone else – we need as differentiated travel information as possible,” said Fiebig. If you continue to warn against traveling abroad in the future, it will not do justice to reality.
Travel industry under pressure worldwide
The travel industry is under pressure worldwide due to the corona pandemic. Countries like Greece, where tourism accounts for almost a third of the economy, fear the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. In Germany, the industry is calling for emergency aid. Around 70,000 hotels and restaurants are about to go bankrupt. For tour operators and travel agencies, the summer season that runs until October is traditionally the period with the highest sales – especially the business with trips abroad.
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