Europe’s tourism industry is experiencing huge losses from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners and staff of travel agencies, hotels, coach operators and tour guides lost their entire source of income from one day to the next. Despite the support measures put in place both at EU level and by individual Member States, the situation facing, in particular, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the European tourism industry remains extremely difficult.

Unfortunately, as highlighted by the representatives of organisations of mainly small tourism businesses, the support from EU funds distributed in the Member States in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic does not always reach those entities which genuinely and urgently need direct funding in order to be able to continue their economic activities and retain jobs. It seems entirely appropriate, therefore, as these organisations are demanding, that the available funds be used as far as possible to support the liquidity of tourism operators at risk of bankruptcy, even if this means cutting back on funds for other purposes, such as investment.

In this connection, what action does the Commission intend to take in order to draw up criteria as a matter of urgency, together with the Member States, for the provision of EU funding to ensure that as many eligible micro, small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in EU countries as possible can benefit from such support?