ETRC, the agreement representing the European retail and duty-free industry, has signed an open letter, along with 24 other tourism agreements and trade unions, expressing its displeasure with the way Covid-19 is managed.
The letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrives as the most recent knowledge of ACI Europe passengers about what had been a slow but encouraging recovery since May and has stagnated throughout the year. summer, then reverted from mid-August (see chart), hit retail heavily and many more.
ETRC President Nigel Keal said: “We are incredibly involved that there will be a significant drop in passenger numbers in air and sea traffic again. Reopening borders and recovering other people’s freedom of movement in Europe is a precondition for the resumption of our industry. »
Major stores saw sales fall by more than 50% in the first part of the year, leading to task cuts and reorganizations.
With the support of industries ranging from larger airlines and airports to campsites, holiday parks and taxi operators, the menu calls for a test protocol for Array across the EU. In particular, the letter criticizes “extreme restrictions” such as quarantines. He says: “They are not an effective way to combat the epidemic, and the European Centre for Disease Control officially informs states that they oppose such restrictions. “
A framework was proposed through the EC on 4 September and we reported it here. Today’s letter urges von der Leyen to give priority to it for approval by Member States and fully implemented.
These needs will need to be balanced against the fact that Covid-19 instances have reached new daily highs in Europe, above the first wave of the epidemic (see graph), with countries like France and Spain affected.
As a component of the EC’s non-unusual technical framework, it suggests, if necessary, providing Covid-19 verification on arrival, with verification of the “preferred option” for quarantines. But if it’s done at airports, there are other problems.
In statements to Forbes. com, John Grant, spouse of the aviation consulting firm Midas, said: “The initial or final evidence employing a consistent European popular is correct in theory. However, recovery is, for the time being, based on nationals and regionals, and with this in mind, it is difficult to see how regional airports will be able to expand such tests in a cost-effective manner.
“Many regional airports may only have a handful of flights a day, and implementing such measures may not be cost-effective. Every step forward is welcome in rebuilding the recovery, however, we want to think beyond airports like Heathrow and Gatwick as well as smaller and more vital regional airports. »
Others, that verification at the airport will eventually become common. In the United States, spa retailer-turned-tester Covid-19 XpresSpa is fully invested in airport verification through its new XpresCheck brand. In August, the company filed its time verification site at Newark Airport. serving New York City.
In a recent tweet, the company’s CEO Doug Satzman said, “Keep in mind that my words, travel, fitness and well-being will be a major move in a post-Covid-19 world. XpresCheck is preparing in the long run for much more than the Covid -19 tests, which is obviously the greatest desire today. »
I have been covering the global retail channel for more than 20 years, specializing in the categories of good looks and luxury.
I have been covering the global retail channel for more than 20 years, specializing in the beauty and luxury categories, I am mainly interested in knowledge and trends, as well as industries such as aviation and tourism that underpin sales. in The Mirror, The Times (London), Elle (Hong Kong), The South China Morning Post, The Moodie Davitt Report and Jane’s. If you have a story to tell or applicable studies to share, please contact us at kevin_rozario@yahoo. com. I was founded in London, United Kingdom.