EU Sets Out Guidelines For Tourism Resumption Amid Virus Pandemic

Tourism is vital to EU as a whole, accounting for 10 per cent of GDP and supporting 23 mn jobs

BRUSSELS: The European Commission has set out guidelines to allow the resumption of tourism so that people may be able to stay in hotels, eat in restaurants or go to beaches safely in the coming months despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

Travel restrictions to combat the virus have already had a devastating impact on the sector, with airlines around the continent forced to shed tens of thousands of jobs.

Under new guidelines from Brussels, holidaymakers could be asked to wear facemasks on planes, respect social distancing on the beach and even book slots to use hotel pools.

Tourism is vital to the EU as a whole, accounting for 10 percent of GDP and supporting 23 million jobs.

It is especially important to southern countries already struggling with debt and the impact of COVID-19 -- notably Greece, Italy and Spain.

“Today’s guidance can be the chance of a better season for the many Europeans whose livelihood depends on tourism and, of course, for those who would like to travel this summer,” the EU commission’s executive vice president Margrethe Vestager told reporters.