According to new data on the tourism sector released by Eurostat on Thursday 30 July, the number of tourists visiting the EU fell by 62% in March, 95% in April and 88% in May, all as a result of containment measures taken to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
In April, at the height of the crisis, Cyprus, Spain and Slovenia, recorded no arrivals at tourist accommodation.
At the same time, the net occupancy rate of beds and hotel rooms was just 1% in Austria, around 3% in Croatia and 4% in Italy and Malta.
Since border restrictions were gradually lifted in mid-June, however, demand has once more picked up, according to the European Travel Commission (ETC).
“There is a high intention among Europeans to travel again and enjoy the summer holidays, but people are still cautious to book trips”, ETC Executive Director Eduardo Santander told EUROPE, lamenting the fact that “travel confidence is at a record low”.
The organisation expects European governments to adopt a harmonised approach to both the lifting of, and re-introduction of, travel restrictions, believing that this is the only way in which to save the travel industry.
“Unfortunately, we see just the opposite”, Mr Santander said regretfully, referring to “a fragmented and constantly changing picture all across Europe”. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)