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Rather than further restrict economic life, the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce called for “massive controls” and a night curfew at a press conference on Thursday. After all, more than 50 percent of infections occurred in private, according to WK President Christoph Walser. The corona pandemic should not be presented as an economic pandemic. Travel restrictions would cause massive damage to the economy and a uniform approach was needed across Europe.
Of course, one is aware of the extent of the virus, Walser said, but it is not seen that the restrictions apparently always affect the economy, which has already been badly damaged. Therefore, they are calling for temporary “mass checks” and a night curfew between 10:30 pm and 6:00 am.
The Tyrol Chamber of Commerce is in exchange for mayors, who are expected to be able to influence the population. “Of course you have to treat the private sector with care,” said the head of the Tyrolean WK, “no one wants a police state.” However, he considers temporary measures to be sensible.
Maintain business life
In any case, economic life and business life must be maintained during the day. LAbg. Mario Gerber (ÖVP), president of the tourism and leisure sector of the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce (WK), demanded that the measures no longer be carried out “at the expense of the tourism industry”. Not only are up to 60,000 employees affected in Tyrol in the winter season, but also numerous small suppliers. Gerber called on the hotel industry to “think economically” and wait until the end of November to “stock up and hire staff.”
It is incomprehensible that gastronomy continues to be one of the first areas affected by tougher measures. Only two percent of all infections can be traced to the restaurant industry and 3.4 percent to tourism, according to Gerber, referring to the introduction of strict hygiene concepts. Companies are well prepared. Advancing the curfew at 10pm was “difficult,” Gerber said and Walser added that WK Tirol would not support further curfew advance.
The blockade is not an alternative for tourism, Gerber emphasized. “The fewer closings there are, the less compensation you have to pay,” Abg said. Franz Hörl (ÖVP), Chairman of the ropeway specialist group. Many payments are still pending, Walser said. “If money doesn’t flow quickly, a lot of businesses will soon cease to exist.”
Petition against German travel restrictions
There was harsh criticism from all sides of Germany’s draft regulation, which provides for new travel restrictions that, along with the travel warning, would amount to a border closure. The last few months have shown that travel restrictions cause huge financial problems. Free border traffic is essential to sustaining economic life, Walser said.
That’s why yesterday they launched an online petition titled “Stop Counterproductive Travel Warnings and Border Traffic Restrictions!” started. After three weeks, they want to hand over the signatures to the federal government and Tyrolean MEP Barbara Thaler (ÖVP). As of Thursday morning, 700 people had already signed the petition.
In any case, the European Union is now being asked to develop uniform solutions. The current border management does not correspond to “the Europe we are fighting for,” Hörl said, “which could also be the end of Europe.” He asked for restraint regarding Austria’s travel advisories. The WK Tyrolean President said once again that precise guidelines would be needed on how travel in Europe could work. They want to start filing for the petition today and hope this will lead to a rethink.
Hörl spoke of an “attack on travelers”. From Gerber’s point of view, the situation resembles “a modern economic war,” he referred to “requests from some leaders of German countries to go on vacation with them.” As “number one tourist destination”, representatives of the Tyrolean WK have a responsibility. But of course a united federal approach is needed, they don’t want to rush here, Gerber said.
