Informe semanal de la oficina de Turismo de Tenerife en Fráncfort
Coronavirus update:
- Germans can travel to these countries again: Almost every country in the world either closed its borders completely during the Corona crisis or at least made entry enormously more difficult – for example, through strict quarantine rules. Now the rules are being relaxed again. An overview from fvw. Greece: The announced revival of tourism in Greece on July 1 is in the bag. Croatia: According to reports, the country is negotiating with Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic to make it possible to travel by car for holidays. Netherlands: Relaxation of the tourism sector is planned for July. Then campsites and holiday parks will be allowed to open their doors again. Austria: The Austrian government has proposed opening the borders between individual EU countries for summer holidaymakers. Sweden: There is currently no closing of the borders, but there are controls and restrictions. In principle, however, the Swedish government advises against travel in and within the country, and Germany has also issued a travel warning. Czech Republic: The Czech government is considering reopening the country’s borders in July. However, this has not yet been finally decided.
- Euro zone economy could collapse by 7.7 percent: The EU and its member states are trying to keep the economy alive with huge sums of money. 3.4 trillion euros in aid and guarantees have already been pledged, reports Spiegel. Yet economic performance in Europe is threatening to collapse dramatically: In its current spring forecast for 2020, the EU Commission expects economic output within the EU to fall by around 7.4 percent. In 2021, things are expected to pick up again.
Market news:
- German travel bookings slump by 93% in April: German travel agencies suffered a dramatic 93% collapse in revenues last month as they were forced to shut down due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and tour operators continued to cancel holiday bookings because of the global travel warning, reports fvw with new figures published by the software company TATS show. The devastating collapse in sales followed on from a similar 81% slump in March when the government’s initial worldwide travel warning prompted tour operators to start cancelling bookings and customers abruptly stopped booking new holidays.
- Tourism industry calls for state support after 11bn Euros Covid-19 financial hit: Travel agencies and tour operators in Germany now look set to lose €10.8 billion worth of revenues by mid-June, according to new estimates by the German Travel Industry Association (DRV), following the government’s decision to extend its global travel warning until June 14 and further subsequent booking cancellations by tour operators. The DRV is calling for an «instant aid programme» with direct payments to companies in financial difficulties. Two out of three travel firms are now threatened with insolvency, according to the association. With the chances of a voucher scheme to enable tour operators to retain customer payments now looking increasingly unlikely, diverse politicians, including economics state secretary Thomas Bareiß who is responsible for the tourism industry, are now calling for a state-backed €10 billion fund to save travel companies from insolvency. This would initially be funded by the government and later by a 1% contribution from package holiday sales turnover. The idea of a fund has already been backed by several top figures in the German tourism sector, reports fvw.
- Travel agencies demonstrate nationwide again: Next Wednesday, May 13th, travel agencies want to go on the streets again nationwide to make politicians aware of their precarious situation and call for help from the state. Demonstrations are planned in many cities, including Berlin, Dortmund, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Kassel, Oberhausen, Koblenz and Freiburg, reports trvlcounter. After the first nationwide day of action on 29 April, when more than 1,700 participants took to the streets, travel agency demonstrations have already taken place in various cities over the past few days.
Aviation News:
- Lufthansa confirms details of negotiations with the German government: Deutsche Lufthansa is negotiating a stabilization package for 9 billion euros with the Federal Economic Stabilization Fund (Wirtschaftsstabilisierungsfonds – WSF) to finance the Lufthansa Group. The negotiations and the process of political decision-making are still ongoing. The negotiations on financing measures include a silent participation and a secured loan. The conditions are currently being discussed. A stake by the German government in the company’s share capital is also part of the negotiations. In this context, various alternatives of a capital increase are being discussed, including an increase at the nominal value of the share, if necessary after a capital cut, to create a shareholding of up to 25% plus one share. In addition, conditions in accordance with the EU Temporary Framework and WSF Act are provided, including the waiver of future dividend payments. In addition, the WSF is seeking representation within the Supervisory Board. The Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG is continuing negotiations with the aim of ensuring the future viability of the company for the benefit of its customers and employees.
- Airports lose half a billion euros per month: Due to the collapse of passenger traffic, German airports currently have hardly any revenue. The situation is threatening the existence of many airports. The industry association ADV is therefore demanding support from the federal and state governments. Frankfurt Airport registered only slightly more than 48,000 passengers in the past four weeks, almost 97 percent fewer than in the same period last year. The other airports are also experiencing little or no passenger business at all as a result of worldwide travel warnings and entry bans. The airports have lost 95 percent of their revenue, and 80 percent of their employees are on short-time working. At the same time, however, maintenance costs of 170 million euros are incurred every month to maintain operational readiness.
Tour operator:
- DER Touristik focuses on holidays in Germany: DER Touristik is reacting to the relaxation of travel restrictions in Germany, reports trvlcounter. The Group is marketing its Germany product range under the motto «Holidays again at last». Particularly strong demand is expected for the Bavarian Forest and the coasts of the North and Baltic Sea. «We started with very high German bookings before the outbreak of Corona. This shows that holidays in your own country have always been attractive,» says CEO Ingo Burmester. It goes without saying that all trips would be tailored to the respective requirements of the federal states. The safety of the customers has top priority, he says.
- Best-Reisen sees dark situation for agencies: A recent survey, in which 60 percent of the approximately 650 members of the Filderstadt-based travel agency cooperation took part, reveals in black and white the difficult economic situation of the partners. According to the survey, 79 percent of those surveyed fear that they will probably have to lay off employees. Just under half (45 percent) are even considering an orderly termination of business. As can also be seen from the survey, 57 percent assess their economic future as bad to very bad. Only eight percent expect a good or even very good future, reports fvw.
Cruises:
- Most German cruise vessels stay in harbour until July: According to fvw, most cruise companies have extended their cancellations from May until July because of long-lasting worldwide travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aida Cruises is now planning to restart its trips on July 1, 2020. TUI Cruises has so far cancelled all sailings up to June 14. Customers have been offered the option of re-booking free of charge to a later date with a discount on the entire package price – 10% for new bookings until October 31, 2020 or 5% until December 31, 2021. Sister company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has also suspended trips until mid-June. Costa Cruises is planning to restart its operation at the beginning of July. MSC has even extended its suspension of operations from May 29 until July 11. Cunard has extended its cancellations as well: Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will not cast off before July 31. For Queen Elizabeth even the whole Alaska season until September 8 was cancelled
