TUI Sees Greece Among Countries Preparing for the Return of Tourists

Greece is among the countries that is intensively preparing for the return of tourists, according to travel giant TUI.

In a letter to the company’s staff, recently published by German newspaper Bild, TUI CEO Fritz Joussen, among other things, refers to which countries he sees receiving tourists this year, following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Portugal are looking to have a dialogue with us and are preparing intensively for the return of tourists. This, of course, requires the gradual adjustment of restrictions on travel and flights,” Joussen said.

TUI’s CEO underlined that the tourism industry and governments will have to do whatever they can to make vacation trips possible, firsty in countries that have not been so badly affected by the pandemic and “consider themselves well prepared”.

“… people want to travel and once tourism is able to start responsibly and safely, tourists will start traveling.” – TUI CEO Fritz Joussen

Moreover, in his letter, Joussen sees travel taking place this year totally different than what we are all accustomed to.

“Of course travel will be different in 2020: other destinations, other security measures, different tourism offers at holiday destinations. But people want to travel and once tourism is able to start responsibly and safely, tourists will start traveling,” he said, underlining that instead of doubting this year’s holidays and the summer season “we should be agreeing on clear specifications both for domestic travel and for taking trips in Europe and the EU”.

Touching on the subject of the safety of tourists when on holiday this year, in hotels for example, he said the tourism industry is called upon to give solutions to a number of questions.

“Details for all this will be announced in the coming weeks… It is certain that we are prepared and will responsibly form the restart,” Joussen said.

A leading tourism group, TUI has been present in Greece for more than 40 years and its portfolio includes 49 hotel units in the country. Last year, the company brought some three million tourists to Greece.