A European race for the first to allow tourists back into his country may lead according to Heiko Maas (SPD) to unacceptable risks. Holidays abroad are on the way for the time being. Foreign Minister Maas is tempering expectations despite Austria having offered to open its borders to German tourists.
Now that discussions about tourists are in full swing, given countries are releasing the restrictions somewhat in the coming weeks, all expectations are immediately tempered.
"We must not ruin the hard-won success of the past few weeks. A European race for the first to allow tourists back in leads to unacceptable risks. We have seen what an infection cluster in a popular holiday area as in the Austrian ski area Ischgl can do in the homelands of tourists ”, says Heiko Maas (SPD).
The minister warned that this should not be repeated. Europe, on the other hand, needs common criteria to return to the freedom of travel for tourists. The warnings were triggered in part by the plans of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz for a gradual opening of the border for holidaymakers from the Czech Republic or Germany.
Thomas Bareiß, the Federal Government's Commissioner for Tourism, also believes that long-distance travel is impossible. Holidays in your own country should soon be possible. However, he argued for a cautious relaxation in the current global travel warning.
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