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Travel restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus have had a devastating effect on the transport and tourism sectors. Continental airlines have been forced to lay off tens of thousands of workers.
The new guidelines, published in Brussels, state that companies will be able to require air passengers to wear masks, so that tourists keep a safe distance from the beaches, and even register in advance to use hotel pools.
Tourism is a key sector for the European Union as a whole, representing 10% of the gross domestic product and maintenance block of 23 million. Job positions
It is even more important for members of the southern Community, such as Greece, Italy and Spain, who are already overwhelmed by high debts and the effects of COVID-19.
“Today’s advice could be an opportunity for a better season for many Europeans, whose livelihoods depend on tourism and, of course, for those who want to travel this summer,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the European Commission, told reporters. .
A clear sign of the crisis was the announcement by the world’s largest tourism group on Wednesday that it plans to lay off 8,000 workers. The company incurred more than $ 750 million in the first three months of this year. net loss of euros.
Gradually update
National governments make the decisions to open the borders, but Brussels asks the 27 members of the Community to coordinate the reduction of the restrictions. Such tactics should look different from the start of this crisis, when EU countries closed their borders almost without consultation.
The EU proposes a three-step scheme, starting with the current situation where most unnecessary foreign travel is prohibited.
In a second step, restrictions on movement between countries and regions with a similar epidemiological situation and the improvement of public health must be removed.
Achieving the third phase would remove all travel restrictions and border controls on coronaviruses.
How long this plan could be implemented has not yet been announced, but Brussels urges governments to take into account not only health but also economic and social factors when deciding to open the borders.
Germany plans to lift the border crossings with Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland and France starting June 15. Family and business trips may be allowed as early as next Friday.
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