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  • Over the past few weeks, many of us have been excited just to stretch our legs out in the park.

  • Planning a holiday would have been out of the question.

  • And with half of all tourist arrivals worldwide taking place in Europe,

  • the industry is being hit hard by the pandemic.

  • The strict lockdown measures imposed across most of Europe

  • and wider restrictions on travel have led to empty airports,

  • grounded airplanes and deserted hotels.

  • With many attractions closed and people staying at home,

  • the tourism industry has been on pause since March.

  • As the all-important summer season approaches, the sector is working hard to reopen

  • and attempt to save some of their business. But will that be enough?

  • Every year over half a billion tourists flock to the European Union.

  • We've all seen images of these destinations in the summer.

  • Crowded beaches, sunset parties, delicious outdoor meals

  • But this year, it's all very different.

  • Travel is restricted, some countries require new arrivals to quarantine,

  • and many restaurants, shops and museums remain closed.

  • This is a huge problem for the European Union,

  • given the significance of tourism on the overall economy.

  • Over 10% of the region's economy depends on tourism,

  • but that share is even higher in countries like Malta, Spain and Greece.

  • Now numbers have dropped to zero, practically. Zero.

  • Which means I don't work in the industry anymore,

  • and I am not expecting to work in the industry for the foreseeable future.

  • 34-year-old Vassilis has worked in the tourism sector for more than 10 years,

  • and recently his job involved showing international visitors some of the hidden gems of Athens.

  • Because of the pandemic, he fears for his career and for others working in the same sector.

  • What about your colleagues that work in the tourism industry?

  • Are they also worried about their jobs?

  • More than worried, I would say. Yeah, I think some people are losing their sleep.

  • We have been having this major crisis in Greece, a financial one.

  • A lot of people got involved in tourism because unfortunately they couldn't work in their actual field.

  • So I know biologists or school teachers that got into the industry because they had to.

  • Some people had options. Now I don't see so many.

  • So I am getting more anxious about what is going to happen.

  • In 2018, European tourism contributed to 11.9 million direct jobs

  • and a further 15.4 million in related industries.

  • Many of these people are at high risk of becoming unemployed.

  • The situation in Europe is pretty dramatic for the tourism sector.

  • There is definitely no demand and there is no supply.

  • For many also it is an existential threat. The impact is huge,

  • in particular in south and Mediterranean countries where tourism provides a lot of value.

  • Most European destinations expect a decline in tourism of between 30 and 40% in 2020 compared to 2019.

  • Recent forecasts also show that France is expected to be the most heavily impacted

  • European destination in terms of volume, with nearly 38 million fewer visitors in 2020.

  • Spain and Italy follow suit, with 34 and 31 million fewer arrivals respectively.

  • Fewer tourists will mean less revenue across the board, including for hotels.

  • The impact is very strong. In Italy we have 190 hotels,

  • and of course during the lockdown, in March and April, almost all of them were closed.

  • Today and probably in the coming days almost 100, they are going to reopen.

  • However, getting the doors open again won't be easy.

  • Besides ensuring social distancing in communal areas,

  • hotel staff have been advised to reduce contact with visitors

  • and to limit the number of guests at swimming pools at any given time.

  • Even buffet breakfasts may be taken off the menu.

  • Introducing these measures will take both time and money.

  • We created specific protocols for our hotels, so social distancing of course,

  • masks, and all the things related to the security to the customers.

  • But also towards the staff that have to be trained.

  • For us technology is very important. We tried to avoid as much as possible

  • the contact between the customer and the reception, for instance.

  • Even with all these measures, it isn't clear if consumers will feel safe enough to travel this summer.

  • Taking your family on a holiday or traveling solo won't be as easy as before.

  • Airline capacity has also plummeted as flights have been canceled.

  • And many travelers are worried about spending money at a time of economic uncertainty.

  • All these considerations may put many people off taking a trip abroad this summer

  • and ultimately reduce the size of the tourism industry.

  • In Europe countries are acting differently. We don't have consistency.

  • If I see the problem with a global view, I am a little bit worried,

  • it's not easy to fight against the bigger countries.

  • More positively, the crisis may provide an opportunity to develop more climate-friendly ways to holiday.

  • We could build maybe a more sustainable tourism, a more conscious tourism

  • and something that is more appealing for future generations.

  • The tourism industry is racing against time as it tries to survive the current crisis.

  • How it responds could shape the way we travel and take holidays for many years to come.

  • Hi everyone. Are you planning a holiday? Or do you work in the tourism industry?

  • Share some of your thoughts with us in the comment section, and don't forget to subscribe.

  • I'll see you soon.

Over the past few weeks, many of us have been excited just to stretch our legs out in the park.

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