226 LEGAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY I. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to make a brief analysis of the different activities that today are framed in the field of the collaborative economy for the development of the tourism sector, fundamentally, tourist homes or holiday homes. These are considered as a resource that can contribute to setting up a sector that has come to a standstill with the closure of borders and with the immobilisation of a large part of the European population in their homes. This paper also highlights others, such as transport and complementary activities, which could be a boost when the COVID-19 crisis passes. The aim is to help relaunch the tourism sector, as an integrated sector, not exclusively subject to the professional standard of accommodation or large transport companies. Alongside with these, it can help boost tourism activity as an integrated whole, at a time when it is very likely that a large number of families may be affected by the temporary closure of businesses and the general economic activity downturn. It is clear that, in a situation of economic crisis, beyond the health crisis and its aftermath3, families must address the most immediate needs for their survival. Only at a second stage can the possibility of more superfluous expenses be considered, among which we find the enjoyment of a few days of leisure or vacation. Certainly, those workers who have not seen their income fall will be able to continue their lives with some normality once the confinement is over and the free movement of people is allowed, both within and outside our borders. Those whose economy has been affected and who wish to escape from the stress of a few days holiday will obviously have to use more affordable resources, which means looking for offers from the professional sector, if they are in a position to do so, or the alternative of the so-called collaborative economy as a more immediate means of achieving less expensive holidays. The Círculo Turístico de Canarias, an association that represents certain sectors that depend directly or indirectly on tourism (holiday homes, real estate, leisure, commerce, restaurants, health, transport and construction), in a note published on its social networks, on Monday 6 April, points out that the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the weakness of the tourism sector, mainly in the Canary Islands, one of the Spanish tourist areas par excellence. They understand that part of the weakness is in the dependence on “foreign companies, OTA’s, tour operators, airlines, etc.”. It also contributes to this fragility that a large part of the 3 Certainly, at this point it is not possible to venture how long we will have to fight the virus and what resources will have to be made available to the population and to our visitors once this first major epidemic outbreak is over.
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