The European Tourism Manifesto alliance, the voice of the European travel and tourism sector, calls on Member States to urgently agree on harmonised travel restrictions and ensure swift implementation to help the sector survive this unprecedented crisis.

The European Tourism Manifesto alliance applauds renewed efforts of the European Commission as well as the initiative from the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union from last week to improve coordination on cross-border travel and restore the integrity of the Schengen area.

European travel and tourism is the ecosystem most affected by the coronavirus crisis due to insufficiently coordinated travel restrictions, declining traveller confidence and reduced consumer demand. The 2020 summer season was strongly impacted by this crisis, with traveller confidence reaching a record low.

We call on national governments to urgently approve the European Commission’s proposal and to:

• Establish common criteria and thresholds for determining epidemiological risk, including a common colour-coding system to identify risk areas.
• Implement common measures to put in place upon departure to and return from risk areas.
• Follow a common structured and transparent process to publish clear, comprehensive and timely information about any travel restrictions where these are needed.

Read full statement European travel and tourism sector urges EU governments to agree on harmonised travel restrictions as it struggles to survive the current crisis at tourismmanifesto.eu