Corona: summer vacation? Maas indicates extension of travel warning

Update, 9:58 p.m.: After the federal chancellor Heiko Maas at Picture on Sunday Already issued a warning about the consequences of opening the border to Austria prematurely, once again it was putting a damper on hopes for the summer holidays. Because Maas indicated on Mondaywhich is pronounced in mid-March Travel warning could be extended. “The travel warning is through Sunday of this week,” the SPD politician said in a special issue of ZDF magazine “Wiso” on Monday night.

Maas assumes that “in the following weeks it would be the first no clues there cancel this travel warning. “In many countries there are entry bans, curfews and air traffic on the ground. “Unfortunately, at the moment there is no evidence that this will improve in the coming weeks.” nobody can spend a vacation like he knows. Maas suspected there would be restrictions everywhere.

Holidays at the time of the Crown: the federal government continues to pressure the EU to find a solution for cancellations

Meanwhile, the The federal government in Brussels again in a coupon solution for canceled trips in the crown crisis crowded. In a video conference with colleagues from the EU, the Federal Tourism Commissioner Thomas BareissHe made it clear Monday that “we see a need for action.” The coordination process with the EU Commission “is currently not really progressing”. Therefore it would be Germany in an emergency too ready for a national solution.

The dispute is over how consumers are compensated for vacation packages and flights canceled due to the Corona crisis. EU standards stipulate that Travelers can always insist on reimbursement of ticket costs. The federal government would like to deviate from this and allow companies to offer only one coupon.

Update, 10.06 a.m .: Unlike last week when Austria go alone in affairs Summer Vacation With bilateral solutions, things are different now. Cross-border tourism “will only be possible with caution and step by step,” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Bild. Austria will be with its partner countries and in close contact with the EU Commission together “working on solutions, like a smooth start-up of the Summer tourism it might be possible again. “

Summer holidays in the Crown era: Foreign Minister Heiko Maas dampens Germans’ expectations

Update April 27, 2020, 8.24 a.m.: Given the discussions about the next Vacation season in Crown-Weather Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) lowered expectations of a prompt opening of European tourist destinations. “A European race for the first to allow tourist travel again leads to unacceptable risks,” Maas said of the “Bild am Sonntag”. “We have already seen what an infection group can do in a popular holiday area in tourists’ home countries,” Maas recalled of cases of infection at the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl. The minister warned that this should not be repeated. Trigger for Warnings The plans of the Minister of Foreign Affairs include the Austrian Chancellor Sebastián Kurz for a gradual opening of the border for vacationers from the Czech Republic or Germany, for example.

Instead, Maas hopes for a common European strategy. Austria obviously sees it that way. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has made it clear that his country does not plan to go only for foreign guests. “We will work with partner countries and in close contact with the EU Commission to find solutions on how a new start-up of summer tourism could be possible,” he told the “Bild” newspaper (Monday).

Cross-border tourism “will only be cautious and possible step by step,” he emphasized. Furthermore, this would only apply to countries that are “as far away as Austria and have equally low infection rates” in the fight against the virus.

Summer holidays in the Crown era: Federal government puts pressure on EU to find coupon solutions

Update, 3:30 p.m.: In dispute with the EU over Coupon Solutions The federal government continues to pressure canceled trips.

Tourism representative Thomas Bareiß sees the travel industry because of the Coronavirus pandemic * in a serious crisis for a long time, and urges negotiations to accelerate.

Swabian CDUThe politician said: “Time is short. In Berlin, close coordination with Brussels was important to us. However, economic pressure increases day by day. Other EU countries were not so reluctant and now have the mandatory Coupon introduced by law. I am sure we can find a solution. “

The EU Commission has so far opposed it.

Summer holidays in Crown times: the dispute between Berlin and Brussels continues

Update April 26, 3:10 p.m.: The Coupon– Dispute about canceled trips in the Crown crisis The next round between Brussels and Berlin.

The government would work for “a coupon solution that complies with European law, which in the current situation also takes into account the interests of consumers,” said a spokesman for the news agency’s Federal Ministry of Justice. AFP.

The dispute addresses the question of how consumers are compensated for the tourist packages and flights that are part of Coronavirus pandemic They were canceled. The Federal Ministry of Justice wants a coupon solution to alleviate badly battered travel companies, but EU Commissioner for Justice and Consumer Didier Reynders has so far rejected this proposal.

First report of April 26: That he Crown crisis The summer holidays of many Germans should come between for a few weeks.

But with his statement on the television show “ARD extra ”, the Federal Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, completely destroyed the hopes that many Germans still had despite the pandemic, and also angered representatives of the tourism industry.

Coronavirus: According to Maas, summer vacations with full beaches will not take place this year

At the moment there is “Not a single clue”, suggesting that the currently applicable worldwide travel warning * for the foreseeable futureMaas said about the ARD program. Then it became even clearer about the vacation: one There will be no “normal full beach vacation” this year, predicted Maas, “and not in a single country, nor in Europe nor in any other region of the world”.

It has not yet been decided under what conditions it can allow people to travel abroad, the minister said. People should be able to go back again. But there is no work air traffic.

And recently, the federal government brought some 250,000 people home from their vacation destinations, Maas emphasized. “We will do it not a return campaign do, “he made it absolutely clear.

They responded to clear announcements from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Tourism industry in serious danger of bankruptcy and with a lack of understanding. “We don’t need anyone to catapult the summer holidays,” he criticized. President of the German Travel Association (DRV), Norbert Fiebig, according to a report by Welt.de. “However, what we need is a differentiated debate and no lump sum on summer vacation“

Coronavirus: travel industry hopes for a summer vacation in Austria

Representatives of the travel industry are currently working on plans to at least partially take a vacation abroad this summer. Hopes are raised among other things bilateral agreements with neighboring countries, especially Austria *. Proposed concepts include, for example, that in Planes and trains always have free seats and rows of seatsto guarantee a minimum distance between travelers, says Welt.de. Hotels and other accommodation as well as museums must also provide for admission restrictions, distance regulations and disinfection opportunities *.

The German Tourism Association (DTV) it has also developed “Prospects for a uniform restart at the national level of German tourism”. Besides the Mask requirement * for staff and clients in certain environments too Admission controls. By making appointments, restaurants could also avoid overcrowding. The travel association suggests launching first as Test phase to define “Should those who made Measures to restart German tourism do not contribute to a significantly negative change, more tourist deals will be allowed in the next step, “Welt.de quoted the association as saying.

Coronavirus: Summer vacation under certain conditions, which are checked every two weeks?

The association reports that this procedure can be carried out every two weeks by implementing measures, evaluating their effects and taking additional measures. “For example, they could Pentecost Holidays will serve Monitoring for the first phase of tourism in Germany develop it and use it to derive recommendations and perspectives for the subsequent procedure, especially for the summer holidays. ”

The cancellation of the summer season by the Federal Foreign Minister, Maas, greatly dampens the hope of the viability of such concepts. There was also DRV President Fiebig that this year’s summer trip will surely be different from the previous ones. “But we need a positive signthat trip will be possible again, of course, taking into account the appropriate hygiene and precautionary measures, “he emphasized. Make sure it is it is possible to travel “safer and smarter”. If the general warning against foreign travel will continue in the future, this will not do reality justice, criticizes the DRV president. Therefore, according to him, differentiated risk assessments are needed as soon as possible.

However, many people now wonder if they should cancel their summer vacation or if they should wait. In the video you will get some recommendations.

cia, pm, mke with dpa and AFP

* Merkur.de is part of the national network of publishers Ippen-Digital.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Bernd von Jutrczenka