Summer vacation despite corona virus? Foreign Minister Heiko Maas made a clear statement on Wednesday. The tourism industry was horrified - and is making its own plans.
- Because of the Corona * pandemic , the chances of a summer vacation abroad are relatively poor.
- Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas made this clear on Wednesday in a clear statement.
- The tourism industry , shaken by the crisis, reacted with outrage to the minister's announcement.
- Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany. You can also find current case numbers in Germany here as a map *. There are also the following recommendations for corona protection measures *.
Update, 3:30 p.m .: In the dispute with the EU over voucher solutions for canceled trips, the Federal Government continues to exert great pressure.
The tourism officer, Thomas Bareiß, sees the travel industry in a serious crisis for a long time because of the coronavirus pandemic * - and warns to speed up the negotiations.
The Swabian CDU politician said: “Time is short. In Berlin, close coordination with Brussels was important to us. However, the economic pressure is increasing day by day. Other EU countries were not so reluctant to do so and have now legally introduced the mandatory voucher . I am confident that we can find a solution. ”
The EU Commission has so far been opposed.
Summer vacation in Corona times: dispute between Berlin and Brussels continues
Update from April 26, 3.10 p.m .: The voucher dispute about canceled trips in the Corona crisis between Brussels and Berlin is in the next round.
Waiting: holiday plane in Frankfurt am Main.
© dpa / Boris Roessler
The government would work for "a voucher solution that complies with European law, which in the current situation also takes due account of the interests of consumers," said a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Justice of the AFP news agency .
The dispute is about how consumers are compensated for vacation packages and flights canceled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic . The Federal Ministry of Justice wants a voucher solution to relieve the heavily battered travel companies - but EU Justice and Consumer Commissioner Didier Reynders has so far rejected this proposal.
First announcement on April 26: It has been clear for a few weeks that the Corona crisis should get in the way of many Germans' summer vacations.
But with his statement on the television program " ARD extra", Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas completely destroyed the hopes many Germans still had despite the pandemic - and also angered representatives of the tourism industry.
Coronavirus: According to Maas, summer vacations with full beaches will not take place this year
At the moment there is "not a single hint" that indicates that the current worldwide travel warning * can be lifted in the foreseeable future , said Maas on the ARD program. Then he became even clearer about holidays: Maas predicted that there would be no “normal vacation with full beaches” this year , “and not in any country, neither in Europe nor in any other region of the world”.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected hopes of summer vacation abroad.
© dpa / Bernd von Jutrczenka
It has yet to be decided under what conditions you can let people travel abroad, the minister said. People should be able to come back again. But there is no functioning air traffic .
And just recently, the federal government brought around 250,000 people home from their holiday destinations, Maas emphasized. "We will not do such a return campaign again," he made it absolutely clear.
The tourism industry , which was in acute danger of bankruptcy, reacted indignantly and with incomprehension to the clear statements by the Foreign Minister . "We need no one to summer holidays catapulted off", who criticized President of the German Travel Association (DRV), Norbert Fiebig , according to a report by Welt.de . "What we need, however, is a differentiated debate and not a sweeping swan song for summer vacation ."
Coronavirus: The travel industry has hopes of a summer vacation in Austria
Representatives of the travel industry are currently working on plans for at least partially realizing a vacation abroad this summer. Hopes are placed on bilateral agreements with neighboring countries , especially Austria *. Proposed concepts include, for example, that seats and rows of seats always remain free in airplanes and trains , so as to ensure a minimum distance between passengers, according to Welt.de. Hotels and other accommodations as well as museums should also provide for admission restrictions, distance regulations and disinfection opportunities *.
The German Tourism Association (DTV) has also already developed "Perspectives for a nationwide uniform restart of Germany tourism ". In addition to the mask requirement * for staff and customers in certain environments, admission controls are also proposed . By making appointments, restaurants could also prevent overcrowding. The travel association suggests first defining the release as a test phase . "If the measures taken to restart German tourism do not contribute to a significantly negative change, further tourism offers will be allowed in the next step," Welt.de quotes the association.
Today, the DTV presented
prospects for a nationwide #start of #Germany tourism. https://t.co/03KX43MJFM pic.twitter.com/BzUDUhIakV
Coronavirus: Summer vacation under certain conditions, which are checked every two weeks?
The association advises that this procedure can be carried out every two weeks by implementing measures, evaluating their effects and taking further steps. "For example, the Pentecost holidays could be used to develop monitoring for the first phase in Germany tourism and to derive recommendations and perspectives for further action, especially for the summer holidays."
The cancellation of the summer season by Federal Foreign Minister Maas dampens hope for the feasibility of such concepts enormously. Even gave DRV President Fiebig to that this year's summer travel safely'm different from the previous. "But we need a positive sign that travel will be possible again - of course, taking appropriate hygiene and precautionary measures into account," he emphasized. Fiebig is convinced that it is possible to travel “safer and smarter” . If the general warning against trips abroad will continue in future, this will not do justice to reality, the DRV president criticizes. Therefore, according to him, differentiated risk assessments are needed as soon as possible.
However, many people are now wondering whether they should cancel their summer vacation or whether they should wait. In the video you will get some recommendations.
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* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.