The bill also comes for tourism. The impact of the Coronavirus and the following blockage of activities throughout the national territory is having dramatic effects on the economy with strong repercussions for the tourism sector. Only in three months we talk about over 6 billion euros less and even if the slowdown in the restrictive measures is approaching, the road is still very long for the sector.
The current pandemic has completely paralyzed the entire tourism chain. A real short-circuit of one of the key sectors of the Italian economy which generates 13% of the national GDP, according to the World Travel end Tourism Council, 15% of employment and 17 billion euros in the positive balance of the Italian trade balance.
After canceling the month of March and marking the premature end of the winter season, April too ended up knocked out with the Easter holidays due to the impossibility of travel, causing not only citizens' plans to fade but also billions of consumption. This is because April represented the reopening of the summer season, a period in which tourism should have exploded, however, many hotels, restaurants, accommodation facilities and agritourisms are on the verge of bankruptcy.
From the beginning of the quarantine until the end of May they count over 30 million fewer tourists. According to the data released by Confturismo and processed by the WTTC, the losses are enormous and in the best case we are talking about about 120 billion euros less for 2020, freezing all sectors related to tourism: from food and wine, to accommodation facilities, shopping, transport, the use of historical and cultural heritage up to the competitiveness of Italian companies on international markets.
Not to mention the canceled or postponed events around the world, such as Coachella in Los Angeles, the largest music festival in the world, or Semana Santa in Seville, Easter Holy Mass in the Vatican, the Tokyo Olympics, the European of Soccer, Expo 2020 Dubai, and many more.
And even if a slow recovery of activities were to begin, those associated with the tourism sector will be among the last to reopen, also having serious repercussions on employment. For this reason, the Manifesto for Italian tourism, the initiative proposed by various companies in the sector to support the sector, with the hashtag #let's start from Italy.
This is an appeal not only to the institutions, but also to all citizens who want to support an economic sector that is fundamental for our country. The Government is requested, strong and necessary actions for the survival of businesses and workers: the establishment of an extraordinary support fund for all companies in the sector through 0-interest loans or non-repayable loans proportional to the turnover of the individual companies; the extension of the fund in derogation and the creation of holiday vouchers for the summer season.
Crucial for the future, therefore, is not only the recovery after the blockade of activities, but above all the rescue of all the companies in the sector that are in great difficulty. Future predictions on how and when Phase 2 will take place are not easy to make, in any case the health issue will remain central.
Furthermore, given that the flow of visitors to Italy is mainly made up of foreigners, we are not disconnected from what is happening in the rest of the world and the end of the pandemic will differ from country to country.
If in some countries there is talk of Phase 2, others are already ready to start with a slowdown in the restrictive measures, others still are far from a gradual recovery. In any case, this is a delicate phase, which requires a lot of attention from Governments, in order not to frustrate all the efforts and sacrifices made up to now.
In Italy, among the first countries affected, the extension of the quarantine was ordered until the first days of May. At the same time, some in Europe are preparing for a gradual easing of restrictive measures. It is the case of Norway, Denmark, Austria and the Czech Republic. The latter is the first to reopen some commercial activities and public offices, even before the Easter holidays, removing the obligation to wear a mask for those walking the dog or traveling by bicycle. The others, on the other hand, are ready to reopen primary schools and commercial activities immediately after the holidays.
In reverse, in Slovakia, however, the measures are being strengthened. Movements between April 9 and 13 are prohibited, unless out of necessity such as going to work, family funerals and health problems or, at the most, walks in the vicinity of one's home are allowed.
Instead, for a return to normal it will still take a long time ed tourism, as we know it, will change radically. First of all the way of traveling, Italians will be oriented to move within national borders, always in compliance with the necessary measures to avoid new forms of contagion and for those who will have the opportunity to do so.
