Tui boss: 'We must make 2020 holidays possible'
James ChappleTui Group boss Fritz Joussen has urged EU member states to develop "a roadmap" to restore leisure travel in Europe "and make holidays possible in 2020".
Speaking following the resumption of Tui China’s operations, chief executive Joussen said Tui holiday search travel was almost back to normal levels, adding bookings for 2021 were at a "favourable level".
He also suggested some countries were already taking steps to ready themselves for a return of tourism, citing Greece, Cyprus and Portugal as being ahead of the game.
"Tourism within Europe needs a clear perspective," said Joussen. "The EU and the member states should develop a roadmap for travel within Europe and make holidays possible in 2020.
"This includes opening up with tourism and air travel to countries and regions of Europe that have made good progress and are actively promoting the return of holidaymakers, such as Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, the Balearic Islands, Austria or Bulgaria.
"Holidays at home are an offer, but should not be the only answer for Europe and Europeans. The traffic on our booking websites is 90% compared to the previous year, although travel is currently not possible. Bookings for 2021 are also at a favourable level. We must now emerge well from the crisis."
In China, three months after taking its tours off sale, Tui China is now offering short "Tui Selection" trips to the mountains and Chinese beach resorts. The portfolio also includes holiday programmes near some of China’s major cities.
"Our offices in Beijing and Shanghai were in operation during the crisis, but holidays could not be sold," said Joussen. "Now we see a clear backlog demand for holiday travel. Tui China will gradually increase its range of offers in the next few weeks."
Joussen said after China became the initial epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak, and the first country to place citizens under lockdown, the country had demonstrated how the recovery could be managed.
"The country is on the way back to normality and Chinese are allowed to travel within their own country," he added.
Tui Selection includes programmes near Beijing and Shanghai, but also to beach resort Sanya, and destinations in popular mountain and rural regions.
The operator said safety was top priority, with hotels required to meet strict health and safety standards, while only destinations where the epidemic has been "completely brought under control" have been considered for Tui China trips.
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