Amid chaotic border measures EU to keep non-essential travel curbs European Union government leaders will agree on Thursday to maintain curbs on non-essential travel within the EU despite the bloc's executive asking ...more by Reuters – Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Knorr Bremse Major shareholder in German airline Lufthansa mogul Thiele dies unexpectedly Lufthansa's majority shareholder Heinz Hermann Thiele has died unexpectedly at the age of 79. He was becoming a highly visible public figure last year when he was portrayed as the main obstacle to the state bailout the airline needed to survive the coronavirus crisis. ...more by Reuters And Holger Jacobs – Wednesday, February 24, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ RKI study on summer 2020 Most Covid-19 infections didn't come from vacations Good news for the German tourism industry: A new study indicates that most infected persons returning to Germany in summer 2020 were not recreational vacationers staying in hotels or vacation rentals, but travelers who spent their holidays with family or friends. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Airbus/M. Lindner Largest global jetmaker Cautious Airbus forecast disappoints after 2020 loss European planemaker Airbus axed its dividend for a second year and forecasts flat deliveries in 2021 as it braces for more coronavirus uncertainty in the wake of an annual loss. ...more by Reuters – Monday, February 22, 2021
Alltours Starting October 31 Alltours' hotel chain will take in only vaccinated guests Germany's Allsun hotel chain will in future require guests to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, owner Alltours said on Friday, seeking to drum up business from holidaymakers concerned about the risk of contracting the virus. ...more by Reuters – Monday, February 22, 2021
Tourism sales climate index More travel agents expect demand to pick up The sales situation in German travel agencies remains utterly bad. However, optimism among sales experts is slowly rising: A growing percentage of agents expects demand and earnings to increase within the next six months. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Thursday, February 18, 2021
FVW Medien/MK fvw | TravelTalk Counter Days Mediterranean destinations are ready to restart Top destinations in the Mediterranean are geared up to relaunch inbound tourism once more progress is made in the battle against the COVID-19 virus and international travel restrictions are lifted, according to senior managers. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 18, 2021
Pixabay Summer 2021 bookings TUI customers choose Greece ahead of Spain The Greek islands have overtaken the Balearics as the top destination for this summer, according to TUI booking figures for Germany and its other big source markets. But Spain is expected to regain its position as the biggest destination once bookings pick up for Majorca. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 18, 2021
Imago Despite protests Germany defends border checks, lockdown extension Germany said on Monday its decision to impose border controls with the Czech Republic and Austria is a temporary measure of last resort and it defended a lockdown extension against business demands for a roadmap to reopening. ...more by Reuters – Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Gettyimages Writing off summer season? Europe's airlines may need financial refuelling The prospect of persistent travel restrictions is threatening to write off a second peak tourism season for Europe’s airlines. Despite seemingly plump financial cushions, carriers might do well to load up on liquidity while they can. ...more by Reuters – Wednesday, February 17, 2021
FVW Medien/KH Booking holidays close to home Houseboats in high demand with German holidaymakers Cross-border travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic last summer prompted a run on domestic tourism, including on floating accommodation. Many expect that 2021 will be no different – houseboat charter companies will probably benefit. ...more by Reuters And Holger Jacobs – Wednesday, February 17, 2021
FVW Medien/WIL fvw | TravelTalk trade fair Next Counter Days take place at the end of April More than 2,300 tourism experts attended the virtual Counter Days exchanging 121,500 messages with the 160 exhibitors from all over the world. Organizers at FVW Medien were very satisfied with the new event format – and already announced a second edition. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Government bailout Condor files ECJ complaint against Lufthansa German charter airline Condor has asked the European Court of Justice to stop larger rival Lufthansa from cancelling an agreement between the two firms as a condition of a state rescue package it received last year. ...more by Reuters – Monday, February 15, 2021
FVW Medien Live streaming available now Welcome to fvw | TravelTalk virtual Counter Days! Now on air: Enjoy the first virtual Counter Days of fvw | TravelTalk! Besides more than 160 suppliers and a lot of webinars there is a live streaming of all editorial formats such as panerl discussions and destination talks – some of them in English. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Thursday, February 11, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ BAT tourism study Germans worry about safety and prices Germans want to travel again this year but are concerned whether their trip will be safe amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic and how much it might cost, according to the annual BAT survey. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 11, 2021
FTI/Tatjana Kunath Booking incentives German travel agents criticise flexible tariffs Travel agents in Germany are unhappy with the new flexible pricing and cancellation conditions offered by tour operators to try to stimulate bookings for 2021. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 11, 2021
TUI/Christian Wyrwa First quarter results TUI sees financing assured for summer season Europe's largest tour operator TUI continued to realign the group in the first quarter of financial year 2020/11 against a backdrop of widespread lockdowns and massive travel restrictions, and is prepared for a relaunch of its tourism business in the coming weeks. ...more by Holger Jacobs – Wednesday, February 10, 2021
FVW Medien/HMJ German ethics body No special freedoms for those vaccinated Germany's ethics council weighed into a global debate over whether COVID-19 curbs can be eased for people who are vaccinated, saying that should be out of the question while it remains unclear if they can still infect others. ...more by Reuters – Monday, February 08, 2021
FTI Summer 2021 FTI Group aims for Mediterranean comeback German leisure travel group FTI has unveiled ambitious plans for summer 2021 as it aims to profit from a re-opening of tourism in big Mediterranean destinations such as Greece, Spain and Turkey. Moreover, FTI is following the trend towards more flexible pricing. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 04, 2021
Hotelplan After 'bleakest-ever' year Hotelplan Group expects business to pick up Swiss leisure travel group Hotelplan suffered its worst-ever financial year in 2020 but hopes that COVID-19 vaccines and fewer travel restrictions will enable a slight comeback this year. This also applies to German subsidiary Vtours in its first year under the group umbrella. ...more by Paul Needham – Thursday, February 04, 2021
