- US travel ban to have ‘detrimental implications’ on European and American tourism
The European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Tourism Association (ETOA), United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) have called for bilateral conversations between European and US authorities to review and cancel the travel suspension from Europe to the United States of America. US President Donald Trump announced, 12 March, a 30-day suspension of travel by non-US citizens from Europe’s Schengen Zone to the United States. He justified the order as part of an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Trump said the European Union had “failed to take the same precautions” as the US had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak. According to the US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) and the President’s proclamation, the ban applies to the countries belonging to the 26-member Schengen passport-free zone. These are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Non-members of Schengen such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, San Marino, Monaco, Serbia, Montenegro among others, are not covered by the ban. The European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Tourism Association (ETOA), United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) consider this ban not evidenced based and adding more confusion to a beleaguered industry that will likely add more losses to its already-damaged business with long-term consequences for the future recovery of jobs and economic growth. Supporting the official statement from the EU institutions, Eduardo Santander declares (CEO European Travel Commission) “The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any destination and it requires co-operation rather than unilateral action. Planes fly from A to B and B to A, the European tourism sector disapproves this unilateral travel ban without any consultation which will equally affect travel and tourism businesses and citizens at both sides of the Atlantic.” “The President’s statement is puzzling” said Tom Jenkins (CEO of ETOA).“Having downplayed the significance of the crisis – for which there is some argument – he then stigmatises an entire continent. This is a global crisis and we need global understanding. As it stands this move disproportionately damages inbound tourism to the US and punctures confidence in Europe as a destination. Fear is more damaging and spreads faster than a virus”. The European Travel Commission is an association of National Tourism Organisations (NTOs). It was created in 1948 to promote Europe as a tourist destination to the long-haul markets outside of Europe, originally in the USA and later in Canada, Latin America and Asia. It has 33 member NTOs. The European Tourism Association (ETOA) is the trade association for tour operators and suppliers with business in European destinations with over 1,000 members who contribute more than €12bn of business within Europe and include tour and online operators, intermediaries and wholesalers; European tourist boards, hotels, attractions and other tourism suppliers. ECTAA regroups the national associations of travel agents and tour operators of 30 European countries, of which 27 are within the European Union. The US Tour Operators Association represents nearly US$19bn in revenue.
