European travel association Etoa has warned of a “dramatic loss” from North American tourism in 2021 if the European Union does not open its borders.
The association said Europe saw a 90-95% drop in North America leisure travel in 2020 but continued border closures and uncertainty means holidays moved to this year are now in jeopardy.
North American clients need 90 days’ notice to cancel, so peak May bookings are about to be lost, it warns.
Travel restrictions into the EU or the Schengen zone remain in place for all non-essential travel from the US and Canada – and there are no clear indications about when those restrictions will be lifted.
Pre-pandemic, North America was by far the most important origin market for Europe, delivering approximately $70 billion of spending every year.
Much of this business was transferred into 2021, with most of it planning to arrive in the period May to October.
Tom Jenkins, Etoa chief executive, said: “This business represents sustenance in time of famine. It is export income, not domestic spend.
“There has to be a co-ordinated response from the Schengen area to define what it takes for business to resume.
“Billions of dollars are at risk, and not just this year.
“But this is more than money: it is the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people that stand in jeopardy.”
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Terry Dale, chief executive of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) said: “The number one question our tour operator members ask is about the borders reopening.”
He said 14 of the top 20 international destinations visited by USTOAS members are European.
“USTOA strongly encourages swift collaboration between governments to develop reciprocal plans to reopen borders,” he said.
“Communication of those plans…will boost consumer confidence and encourage travel spending that will impact tens of thousands of jobs in the US and abroad.”
Brett Walker, chairman of the Canadian Tour Operators Association (CATO), added: “There must be an immediate, coordinated, and fully transparent tourism recovery plan, highlighting clear and concise safety measures and protocols to support the critical need for both a healthy and economic recovery.”
Etoa will be running a webinar on this topic on February 11, from 4.30-5.30pm.
It will feature Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauck, and Brett Walker, CATO.