Europe outlines plans for summer travel

The EU has unveiled plans to help citizens across the 27 nations salvage their summer holidays after months of coronavirus lockdown and to hopefully resurrect Europe’s battered tourism industry


KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Rail and air tickets: Should be bought and checked in online, with physical distancing in place at security checks

Hygiene: Passengers should wear face masks, especially where physical distancing cannot be fully observed. Sanitising gel should be freely available, and vehicles cleaned and disinfected regularly

Food and drink: May no longer be on sale on journeys

Capacity: Fewer passengers may be allowed on board aircraft, buses, trains and ferries. Passengers not from same household may be seated apart

Transport hubs: Dedicated lanes to keep passenger flows separate. Facilities should be removed or rearranged to ensure distancing

Protective equipment: For all transport staff, with possible barriers for drivers


EU members most dependent on tourism (% of GDP)


10% Percentage of EU GDP generated by tourism

12% Percentage of EU jobs supported by Europe’s tourism industry (23 million jobs)

85% Percentage of Europeans that spend summer holidays in EU


Germany	9%
France	10%
Portugal: 19%
Spain 	15%
Croatia	25%
Italy: 13%
Malta	11%
Estonia	15%
Austria 15%
Slovenia 12%
Bulgaria 12%
Cyprus	22%
Greece	21%


Sources: European Commission, Reuters
Picture: Getty Images
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