Coronavirus: Public information & Resources

Latest page updates:

31 July 2020 | The European Commission has updated its guidance and FAQs on Passenger Rights and Package Travel to include more languages, and address more questions on vouchers/ infringement proceedings (question 3); passenger rights in case of denied boarding by the airline (question 11); rights in case of refusal of access to transport hubs (question 12).
31 July 2020 | Latest UK guidance has been added following a return of restrictions in northwest England and related advice from the Scottish government on travel between the affected region and Scotland (see also United Kingdom section).
24 July 2020 | For travel to England “travel corridor” list updated to take effect from 28 July 2020 and added to United Kingdom section. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are to confirm if the five additional countries will be added to their own “travel corridor” list. Different arrangements may be in place for travellers leaving the UK at their destination.
Application process now open for German coach operators to receive a grant from Federal Government (details added to Germany section).
22 July 2020 | Ireland “green list” countries published and added to Ireland section from where travellers do not have to quarantine on arrival into Ireland. A separate “travel corridor” list of countries applies for travel to Northern Ireland (see United Kingdom section). 
20 July 2020 | Local lockdown measures announced by the Generalitat de Catalonia added to Spain section; European Council recommended list of non-EU countries updated that member states should lift travel restrictions for at the Schengen external border added to European Union section.

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  • See lower down this page for government resources by country covering financial support, cross-border travel and official health guidance.
  • For an overview on internal and cross-border travel allowed/restricted:
    EC (map) for EU27 countries, Norway and Switzerland (includes which services are open in destination and health and safety guidance), for United Kingdom see here,
    OECD (map) for countries worldwide (includes information on government financial support),
    IATA (map) on air travel for countries worldwide.
    Government foreign affairs webpages (for EEA countries see below) should also be monitored as the final decision on border entry and issuing travel advisories/warnings remain matters of national competence.
  • Information on the Package Travel Directive can be found in the ETOA and European Union sections.
  • ETOA’s webinar programme can be found on our Coronavirus Hub.
  • For opinion and research please see our Insight hub.

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ETOA is working hard to ensure European tourism receives the attention it needs during the crisis, to support our members day-to-day, to share information and resources, and to work towards a strong recovery. This page is updated regularly as destinations and government bodies issue new information.

We recognise that the immediate priority is commercial survival so that travel and tourism can play a vital part in the recovery, adding jobs to the economy faster than any other sector. That requires urgent and continued government help. Next, business needs information so it can plan and prioritise effectively.

Tourism in Europe will survive and thrive, and it may be very different. Recovery will take place with renewed respect for how interdependent our world has become. How we look after and share what we most value – communities, cities, countryside and culture – will drive policy, and stimulate new products and services.

Policy makers and the private sector must collaborate to build a resilient and sustainable future for the industry. ETOA and its members will be at the heart of it.

What are we doing?

PR and Lobbying at EU and national level for urgent financial support

      • Cash-flow is King: flexibility needed to help business cope
      • Crisis support must be simple to access and delivered quickly
      • Initiatives to stimulate recovery must be well-targeted to deliver maximum impact
      • ETOA is regularly asked for comment and expert insight

Industry engagement

      • We hold frequent meeting via video-conference with representative groups of members in various destinations and contact members direct.
      • We maintain dialogue with policy makers, DMOs and key attractions, including those holding large pre-payments.
      • We aggregate actual business impact and current priorities per market to support targeted lobbying activity.
      • We stay in close touch with our network in origin markets, monitoring for signs of recovery and consumer trends.

Information and resources

      • We are available for guidance and support. If we don’t have the answer we may know someone who does. Please email coronavirus@etoa.org to request a call-back.
      • We have a programme of webinars focusing on crisis impact, support and recovery plans for origin markets and destinations.
      • We contribute member insight and market intelligence to a range of webinars and policy meetings with industry stakeholders and other institutions.
      • We monitor official information and resources and publish links to government financial support, travel restrictions and health information (see below).

Website

Below are links to information about government financial support, travel restrictions and health information, and related expertise and policy statements issued since the start of the outbreak. These are updated regularly.

Note on content: Public health and travel restrictions remain matters of national regulatory competence. We recognise that, as a result, the business environment is made more challenging due to the divergence of guidelines and advice available. Where possible, we have listed government or government agency websites.

Destinations that have public or industry guidance they wish to share should contact coronavirus@etoa.org.

Multinational Bodies and Associations

European Union

  • European Council
    • 16.07.20: European Council has updated its recommended list of non-EU countries member states should lift travel restrictions for at the Schengen external border (Montenegro and Serbia have been removed otherwise the same list of countries as 30 June 2020). The list is reviewed every two weeks. The United Kingdom is already exempt from this agreement as EU rules apply during the Brexit transition period until 31 December 2020. Final decision on border entry remains a matter of national competence.
    • Updated daily: Overview (map) – information on internal and cross-border travel allowed, services open (e.g. attractions, hospitality) and health and safety guidance for EU27 countries, Norway and Switzerland.
    • Updated daily: List of the temporary border controls between Schengen countries. Further information can be found here which includes country specific information on people movement and the operation of transport services.
    • 31.07.20: FAQs on passenger rights and package travel  [updated since May with additional languages and new questions]
    • 11.06.20: Recommendation on the lifting of Schengen border controls (internal and external)European Commission
    • 13.05.20: Tourism and Transport package published (+summary) comprising:
      • Commission strategy for recovery in 2020 and beyond
      • Recommendation on issuing of vouchers as a result of cancelled package travel and transport services which aims to make vouchers an attractive alternative to cash reimbursement for consumers
      • Guidance to member states on lifting border controls between EU member states
      • Guidance to member states on operation of transport services
      • Guidance to member states on developing health protocols for hospitality establishments
      • Guidelines (+Q&A) on cross-border interoperability of tracing apps agreed by member states with support from the Commission.
    • 21.04.20: Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures
    • 09.04.20: Commissioner Reynders’ call to member states for respect of consumer protection and support to travel and tourism businesses for package travel holidays.
    • 19.03.20: Information on application of the Package Travel Directive (PTD) (2015/2302/EU) covering both EU travellers’ and operators’ cancellation rights. For temporary amendments to the application by country see ETOA section.
    • 18.03.20: Guidelines on EU transport passenger rights.
    • 13.03.20: Coordinated economic response to the COVID-19. Outbreak (COM(2020)112 final)
    • 10.03.20: European Commission press release on response

OECD

Homepage on COVID-19

  • Updated daily: Overview (map) of cross-border and internal travel restrictions, other containment measures and government financial support for approximately 50 countries worldwide.
  • 15.04.20: COVID-19: Tourism Policy Responses: examples of government tourism policy and industry impact

United Nations

ETOA

28.04.2020 (last update): Summary of countries cancellation and refund policies varying the application of the Package Travel Directive (PTD) across Europe. Further information on PTD can be found in the European Union section.

17.03.2020: ETOA joined its partners in the European Manifesto for Tourism to call upon the European Commission and national governments to swiftly implement supportive measures for the industry. For more information, see Tourism Manifesto

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Map on border restrictions per country and which persons are permitted to enter.

International Road Union (IRU)

NECSTouR

Homepage on COVID-19 including examples of good practice by tourism boards

Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO)

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)

‘Safe Travels‘: Sector-specific health protocols scheme

European destinations and source markets

Austria

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Denmark

Tourism Boards and Agencies on COVID-19

Finland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

France

National

Regional

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Greece

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Hungary

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Iceland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Ireland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Italy

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

ETOA referral

  • ETOA’s Italian lawyer can support member companies if they have queries:  Avv. Dino Costanza

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Malta

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Norway

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Poland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Romania

Slovakia

Sweden

United Kingdom

Business Support 

  • UK Government information for business and operational health guidance for a range of workplaces
  • Guidance collecting customer details for businesses in England
  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax helpline set up for business and self-employed concerned about paying their tax due
  • Overview of UK Government business financial support measures (including self-employed). A support finder tool has also been published here. The following measures apply to businesses based throughout the UK:
    • Bounce Back Loan Scheme of up to 25% of SME’s turnover, capped at £50,000. The Government will provide a 100% guarantee and cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees. The application process is designed to be easier than CBILS with no complex eligibility criteria. Businesses are unable to apply if already receiving CBILS but can transfer to the Bounce Back scheme until 4 November 2020.
    • Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) of up to £5 million (for SMEs with an annual turnover of up to £45 million) run by the British Business Bank. To apply contact one of these accredited commercial lenders. The Government will provide a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees.
    • Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) for businesses with an annual turnover of over £45 million can apply for up to £200 million. The scheme is run by the British Business Bank and to apply see here.
    • Covid Corporate Financing Facility (for large businesses with a good credit rating) run by the Bank of England.
    • Job retention scheme in operation until 31 October 2020 where the Government through HMRC will reimburse up to 80% of a ‘furloughed’ employee’s gross wages capped at £2,500 per month. From 1 July part time working allowed for furloughed workers (more details here) and from 1 August businesses will be required to financially contribute to the scheme. Factsheet on new changes published here. The cut off date for workers to be ‘furloughed’ for the first time was 10 June and employee must have been on the payroll before 20 March.
    • Self-employment income support scheme where the Government through HMRC will provide a grant worth 80% of average monthly profits up to £7,500. Factsheet on new changes published here.
    • VAT payments due to HMRC for the period 20 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 can be deferred until the end of the 2020-21 tax year. This does not cover payments for VAT MOSS or Import VAT.

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Long-haul source markets for Europe

India

USA

Disclaimer: While best efforts have been made to verify the accuracy of the information, the information displayed on this page should be used as guidance only.

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