The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has praised Europeans for their efforts to reopen borders following the COVID-19 outbreak. The European Commission officials earlier recommended Schengen member states to lift all internal border controls this week.
International travelers are expected to be welcomed from July 1st. The government has also announced a website – Re-open EU – to help travelers plan their European holidays.
Reopening of borders and the easing of travel restrictions will help boost the tourism sector
In response, Gloria Guevara, WTTC chief executive, said: “WTTC welcomes the reopening of borders and the easing of travel restrictions across Europe. This important move will help encourage holidaymakers to begin traveling again, provide a vital boost to the tourism sector, and kick-start the much-needed global economic recovery. We strongly urge EU member states to follow the recommendation and coordinate efforts to restore a functioning Schengen zone as soon as possible.”
“We are encouraged to see Spain and Germany working together on a new tourist pilot plan, which today saw the Balearic Island of Majorca welcoming its first visitors in three months. The new initiative saw all passengers and holidaymakers arriving from Germany receiving temperature tests upon arrival,” she added.
“This landmark move by the two European heavyweights is a significant step towards recovery, and it is important other countries implement similar measures which will kick-start the tourism sector and save the millions of livelihoods that depend on it.”
Tourism accounted for 22.6 million jobs, or 11.2% of the total workforce in the European Union in 2019, according to WTTC figures.
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