Spanish secretary plans to have single protocol against COVID 19 to reopen tourism
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Image generated with AiThe Spanish government is working on a two-phase plan of reopening its country and its tourism sector to ease the industrial and economic activity and employment once the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic passes.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Ms. Isabel Oliver, chaired on last Thursday a meeting of the Tourism Sector Commission in which it was agreed to organise a single health protocol against COVID-19 or coronavirus in order to prepare for the reopening of the travel & tourism sector once it containment measures have been eased.
Isabel Oliver, Secretary of State for Tourism said that the security is going to be fundamental in the new normality that await them. There is no certainty about when they can restart tourism, but they must reopen in safe sanitary conditions for those who visit us and for workers, residents and the environment.
This uniform protocol will include the basic requirements that each sub sector or tourist activity must comply with in terms of hygiene and sanitary security. It will work in the field of concertation of economic and social agents to prepare this protocol and with the participation of the Institute for Spanish Tourist Quality (ICTE).
At this extraordinary meeting, the Secretary of State for Tourism has conveyed to the Spanish Autonomous Communities the intention of developing a campaign to stimulate national tourism once the evolution of the pandemic allows it. Later, a promotion and marketing plan will be developed in international markets.
The Spanish Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz said that the first phase for “productive sectors,” which would commence in summer and the second phase, would be put into place from the end of the year. But any final decisions regarding the plan, however, would depend on health authorities.
In a separate press conference, Spain’s Minister of Finance María Jesús Montero said that Spain would not resume touristic activity until the safety of Spaniards and visitors alike could be assured. According to Marca, Labor Minister Diaz said sectors, such as tourism, culture, catering and air and sea transport, “are going to have enormous difficulties” in reopening.
The return to “normalcy” in Spain is not expected until Christmas; however, the return to normalcy in bars, restaurants, hotels, concerts, theaters or cinemas is expected to be slower, the report also added.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez would ask parliament for a 15-day extension of the country’s lockdown lasting until May 9. The citizens are to remain restricted to their homes except for essential outings such as food shopping—children are not even allowed out for exercise, it adds. With that said, the country did open up some sectors of the economy this week, including manufacturing.
