Europe to develop recovery plan for tourism sector

Nine countries submitted a joint Declaration requesting the EU on the development of a recovery plan working in the tourism sector, Report informs, citing foreign media.

On Monday, the Ministers of Tourism of Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria held negotiations online to develop a common position.

The Initiator of the Declaration was Spain. The text contains three main points: the establishment of uniform protocols to ensure safe crossings, attention to the specific problems of the most affected countries and territories – far away regions and Islands, and raise the necessary funds to assist companies and employees in the tourism sector.

They said the newly established SURE program, as well as fresh European Investment Funds, should support employment in the industry throughout the crisis.

"To help tourism successfully recover, there needs to be cooperation and coordination among member states. Together we can make the sector key to post-coronavirus economic recovery," Tourism Minister of Spain Reyes Maroto said.

She also noted the need to assist the airlines, "a key sector for tourism." "The safety of movement must be guaranteed, as well as the confidence of travelers," added Maroto.

Tourism accounts for 10 percent of EU GDP and provides 12 percent of jobs. Last year the EU was was 562 million international arrivals.