ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism

COVID-19

A collection of Tourism sector News articles, Resources and Comment related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic gathered from the ENAT website and other sources.
ENAT is not responsible for the functioning or contents of external websites referenced on this page.  

Newest items are listed first.

News items

  11/09/2020. European travel and tourism sector urges EU governments to agree on harmonised travel restrictions as it struggles to survive the current crisis 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.

  04/09/2020. Coronavirus: Commission proposes more clarity and predictability of any measures restricting free movement in the European Union. New measures: 1. Common criteria and thresholds for Member States when deciding whether to introduce travel restrictions; 2. Mapping of common criteria using an agreed colour code; 3. A common framework for measures applied to travellers from high-risk areas; 4. Clear and timely information to the public about any restrictions.

  26/8/2020. Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a new in-depth data dashboard highlighting the recovery of travel demand across flights, hotels, world regions and tourism segments. The Covid-19 travel demand recovery dashboard also reveals the shifting intentions of travellers through online travel searches.

03/08/2020 UNWTO, ONCE Foundation and ENAT Call for The Reopening of Tourism Destinations to Cater for the Needs of People With Disabilities. Download the new Guidelines for tourism businesses.
UNWTO-Fundacion ONCE - ENAT Guideline - Reopening Tourism for Travellers with Disabilities: How to provide safety without imposing unnecessary obstacles.  (PDF 2.30 MB)

30/07/2020 COVID-19 Operational Guidance for Accommodation. TravelLife Accommodation Sustainability. (PDF Download) 

29/07/2020 Practical information for tourists in the COVID-19 crisis, from Spain's official tourism website.
 

 6/06/2020 COVID-19 and sustainable tourism: Information resources and links. An evolving database of over 500 resources with insights and ideas, by Dr. Anna Spenceley on WordPress.

30/06/2020 European Council agrees to start lifting travel restrictions for residents of some third countries. The Council today adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU. Travel restrictions should be lifted for countries listed in the recommendation, with this list being reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks. Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 1 July member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries... (list follows - refer to link above).

19/06/2020 EU Parliament requests further action to save EU tourism. MEPs call for additional measures to save the EU’s tourism and travel sector and make it future-proof after COVID-19 crisis. The Parliament wants EU support to serve as a tool to guide infrastructure and transport development and tourism towards more sustainable, innovative, resilient and high-quality products and services. The Parliament supports the concept of ‘safe and smart destinations’ to ensure the development of sustainable, responsible and accessible tourism.

17/06/2020 Sri Lanka Tourism ready to welcome tourists from 1st Aug 2020 (Originally published, 05/06/2020).

15/06/2020 'Re-open EU’, an interactive tool providing the information to confidently plan European travel and holidays, while staying healthy and safe. Lists National information on COVID-19 measures, Travel restrictions, Services and Health and Safety for all EU Member States.   

  12/06/2020. Greece opens to travellers - Useful information (Greek Travel Pages)


12/06/2020 Coronavirus: Commission recommends partial and gradual lifting of travel restrictions to the EU after 30 June, based on common coordinated approach

09/06/2020 Fáilte Ireland publishes operational guidelines with industry groups for safe re-opening


03/06/2020  Health protocols for tourism businesses in Greece


03/06/2020  EU Commission dedicated website on Coronavirus   On jobs and economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

22/05/20  International Labour Organisation issues guidance for safe, healthy, return to work during COVID-19

22/05/2020  Greek Travel Pages. Greek Hotels: Health Protocols for Greek Post-COVID-19 Restart Officially Announced.

20/05/2020 European Commission Guidelines Are Paving The Way To Recovery For The European Tourism Sector From The COVID-19 Crisis. The European Tourism Manifesto alliance, the voice of the European travel and tourism sector, has issued the following statement on the European Commission’s guidance on how to safely resume travel and reboot Europe's tourism in 2020 and beyond.

18/05/2020 Press release - COVID-19: MEPs to discuss way forward with Commissioners Breton and Gentiloni [European Parliament]. The Internal Market Committee will debate the EU’s exit strategy and the impact of COVID-19 on customs-related initiatives with Commissioners Breton and Gentiloni, respectively. Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

15/05/2020 Tourism and Transport: Commission's Guidance On How To Safely Resume Travel And Reboot Europe's Tourism In 2020 And Beyond  European Commission Press Release, Brussels, 13 May 2020. Today, the Commission presents a package of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen, after months of lockdown, while respecting necessary health precautions. Includes European Commission documents for downloading. 

15/05/2020 Covid-19 And Opoportunities for VR Based Economy Virtual reality-based technologies, using 360-degree videos of tourism destinations viewed on a VR headset can substitute for real trips and help tourists dream or plan for the next vacation. A new survey indicates an opportunity for creating a parallel economy for tourist guides as 360-video content providers.

21/04/2020 An Inclusive Tourism Response to COVID-19 for Vulnerable Groups - UNWTO Just as the tourism sector is affected more than others by the current COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable groups within the sector are among the hardest hit. As laid down in the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, the sector has a duty to promote the rights of the most vulnerable groups such as women, indigenous people and people with disabilities.

21/04/2020  "Clean and Safe" stamp by Portugal Tourist Board.Press Release.  At a time when the recovery of the sector is being prepared, tourism enterprises, tourist entertainment companies and travel agencies have the option to request certification as a “Clean & Safe” establishment. Turismo de Portugal has created a stamp of approval to distinguish tourist activities which are compliant with hygiene and cleaning requirements for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other possible infections, thus reinforcing the tourist’s confidence in the safety of the destination.  

17/03/2020  Tourism Sector Demands Urgent Supportive Measures to Reduce Devastating Impact of COVID-19 The European Tourism Manifesto alliance, the voice of the European travel and tourism sector, has issued the following statement on the implementation of urgent measures to limit the COVID-19 outbreak’s impact on the sector.  

14/03/2020  European Commission Coordinated Economic Response To The COVID-19 Outbreak COVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus, is a severe public health emergency for citizens, societies and economies. Having spread from China, the pandemic has now provoked infections in all Member States. The European Commission presents the Communication on COVID-19 Virus Response, with a list of measures to contain virus and mitigate effects on businesses, employment and tourism.

Last updated: 17 September 2020