EU travel and tourism stakeholders call for international travel boost
HOTREC, together with the European Tourism Manifesto alliance, supports the extension of the EU Covid digital certificate for one year period (until July 2022).
Overall, travel and tourism stakeholders welcome the relaxation of travel restrictions within Europe but alert the EU of the need to revise the Council Recommendations on travel within the EU, as well as the Recommendation for non-essential travel from third countries. Our position is available here.
Our main priorities include lifting the white list (list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted); the recognition of all WHO vaccines (without the need to perform further testing); and the necessity of implementing the EU DCC in a consistent manner with regard to children and young adults below 18 years of age. We believe these objectives will boost international travel as well as intra-EU travel and tourism to pre-COVID levels.
It is to note that, in April 2022, the European Parliament appointed a special Committee COVI tasked with looking into the European response to the pandemic. Hospitality and tourism are to be considered as sectors heavily impacted. Drawing on lessons learned, COVI is expected to produce a report to Parliament containing action recommendations in 2023. HOTREC already wrote to the Committee Chair and Vice-Chairs offering to provide the sector’s perspective, including via hearings and exchange of views with elected Members.
