News & Stories

Munich. In the corona chaos of summer 2020, more and more politicians are making seemingly arbitrary decisions with devastating consequences for tourism and the hotel industry: they are imposing overnight stricter quarantine rules, discriminating against travellers from hotspots, imposing renewed curfews, increasing penalties for non-compliance and now panicky increases in testing. In Central Europe, there is nothing but actionism - no one can see through any more.

Madrid. The near-complete lockdown imposed in response to the pandemic led to a 98 percent fall in international tourist numbers in May when compared to 2019. This is the enormous toll of Covid-19 on international tourism, reveals UNWTO: data showing the cost up to May was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis.

Berlin. Although the travel warning has been lifted for Europe for just over four weeks, it still applies to 160 countries. And the summer thriller continues, because every country complicates travel with its own restrictions - along the lines of "mask on, mask off, quarantine yes or no". These ups and downs are forcing travelers to their knees even faster - when traveling abroad, but also at home.

Delhi. For India, it all began in Thrissur, district of Kerala, at the tropical Malabar Coast known for its palm-lined beaches and backwaters. It was in this southern part of India that the first Indian tested positive for the dreaded Corona virus or Covid-19. The lockdown leaves deep economic scars in the country and above all unemployment for hundreds of millions of people. In addition to a popular corona app, a renowned technology expert also recommends that the government use technology more intensively for the benefit of the travel industry. We have also asked Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of India's Taj Hotels & Resorts, for a brief comment.

Madrid. The resurgence of Covid 19 is causing Spanish hoteliers to lose hope that the months of July and August could save an already unstable summer season.

Frankfurt/Main. This segment had already been booming in previous years, Corona literally made caravanning explode: New registrations of leisure vehicles reached a record level of almost 55,000 vehicles in the first half of the year. This is around 4 % more than in the first half of 2019.

Munich. Summer holidays, short-time work, home office – the job market is acting in a restricted way, but the change in "Work & Travel" is already underway. City tourism is down, according to figures from Germany and Austria. The trade fair business is not picking up either: In Cologne, presence trade fairs are again permitted, but the first ones are not taking place now because too few exhibitors are registering.

Zagreb. A rapid rise in the number of infections does not necessarily mean a second wave of the pandemic. Croatia is a current example of this: A country in which only 3,220 people have tested positive for Covid-19 so far can easily be frightened by case numbers doubling. The shock hits a coastal country like Croatia, which is dependent on tourism, particularly hard.

Bern. The Swiss Federal Council extends short-time working compensation from 12 to 18 months. Additional economic assistance is to be provided for hardship cases. From 6 July, everyone in the country will be required to wear masks on public transport for the first time.

Frankfurt. Since Corona, companies have significantly reduced their business trips. Around two-thirds of meetings have since been conducted virtually – an increase of 39%. Eight out of ten business travellers prefer face-to-face meetings – despite Corona.