Commissioner Breton on the Tourism & Transport Package
In the current times of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry is preparing to reopen its doors to renewed economic activities with caution. At the time of presenting the package the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, expressed his views on how the European economy depends on the survival of SMEs and family-run businesses and the vitality of allowing these businesses to start functioning again. However, the health and safe of citizens will remain of utmost importance. As the Member States progressively and gradually lift border restrictions to allow touristic activities, they need to ensure there is sufficient capacity in terms of hospitals, testing, surveillance, and contact tracing. This will reassure tourists of safety and the preparedness of the industry. In addition, financial assistance, such as vouchers as an alternative to cash reimbursement, will also need to be considered. The third element addressed was virtually disseminated information, which has been set up on a website with a map combining real-time information related to tourism.
The Commissioner emphasised on how the recovery of all industrial ecosystems will have to be green, digital, and resilient. It will have to come as a result of collective efforts from EU institutions, the industry, regions, and cities will be required to discover how to achieve this, anticipate new trends and consumer patterns related to it. Having this aim, a European tourism convention will be organised to start preparing a roadmap for a sustainable, innovative, and resilient European tourism ecosystem.
To read the original text of the speech delivered by Commissioner Breton, please click here.