More than 20 travel and tourism industry bodies and unions
across Europe have joined forces to call on the European Commission to replace
quarantine restrictions with an EU-wide testing scheme in a bid to stimulate
travel and save millions of jobs.
In an open letter to European Commission president Ursula
von der Leyen, the groups, representing more than 5,000 member companies and
their employees, said a lack of co-ordination across the EU and differing
travel restrictions are “crippling” their business. The letter has been signed
by organisations representing airlines, airports, rail operators, ground
handlers, caterers, travel retailers, air navigation service providers, tour
operators, hotels, restaurants, cafes, travel agents, road transport operators
and logistics services, camp sites, holiday parks, taxi operators, tourism
boards and other authorities. Signatories include the International Air
Transport Association, Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for
Europe, the European Travel Commission and the Alliance of Rail New Entrants.
The group is calling for an EU Testing Protocol for Travel
to be implemented across the bloc in order to avoid or reduce blanket
quarantine restrictions and re-open borders. The letter cites the fact that the
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control formally advises states
against “extreme travel restrictions”, which the group claims are neither
risk-based nor proven effective where community transmission is already
present, as is the case across the continent.
“We stand ready to immediately assist and work with the
commission and member states on this and would like to discuss the way forward
with you at your earliest convenience,” the letter says.
“The travel and tourism sector is by far the most heavily
impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. The current situation amounts to an
existential threat for many of our companies and our employees, who for years
have contributed to making the ideals and objectives of a united Europe a reality.
We desperately need to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
“We hope the EU will not let us down.”
The European Commission pleaded with member states to take a
unified approach to re-opening their borders in June, even releasing guidance
on how this could be done, but individual states have the power to determine
their own policies when it comes to international travel, resulting in varying
rules across the bloc.
In the letter, the travel bodies call on the “immediate personal
involvement” of von der Leyen as president of the commission to “make this
issue a top priority and… address this issue directly with the heads of state
and government”.
Luis Araujo, president of the European Travel Commission
commented: “European travel and tourism has suffered a devastating blow from
the coronavirus crisis due to insufficiently coordinated border restrictions,
declining traveller confidence and reduced consumer demand. The industry simply
cannot afford to have a similar fragmented picture with inconsistent and
constantly changing national approaches for the upcoming autumn and winter
seasons. The freedom of movement and millions of livelihoods in Europe are at
stake today and the European Commission has to lead the way to restore travel
in the EU.”