308 LEGAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY V. SITUATION OF TRAVEL AGENCIES IN MARCH 2021 The crisis scenario opens again the debate on the weighting of interests between consumers-travelers and traders, in this case travel agencies, interests that are very present in the contracting of package travel contracts. And although at the beginning of the crisis we observed measures to protect the traveller, such as the creation of a voucher, we are now witnessing the possible adoption of measures that are clearly committed to the tourist trader. The possibility of cancellation of refund to the traveler tips the balance clearly towards the tourist trader. And although it is a measure that clearly goes against the spirit of the Package Travel Directive, which is protectionist towards the traveler, I understand that at an exceptional moment like the one we are living in, it requires exceptional measures that require the effort of all, in order to protect the tourism sector. Ultimately, and beyond the regulatory and economic solutions, the aim is to convey to society as a whole the need to protect the two million jobs linked to tourism in Spain and that, if exceptional measures are not applied, could disappear. Despite this, a year after the start of the pandemic, the Spanish Union of Travel Agencies makes a very pessimistic balance of the situation of the sector in Spain and warns that if the aid is not specified, as soon as possible, 40% of travel agencies could close12. It is stated that with the current scenario, 84.5% of travel agents believe that it will be impossible to recover the billing levels of the year prior to the pandemic and 72.3% of professionals consider that, in the best of scenarios , and with the reasonably normalized situation, they would invoice half that in 2019 or less. For all this, they claim direct aid to support their businesses, beyond credits and tax deductions that only increase our indebtedness. Travel agencies are one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic and by the restrictions on mobility imposed, and their professionals are already affected by the level of employment. Thus, three out of ten agencies have not been able to keep their entire workforce in 2020 and 23%, although they still do, expect to have to make redundancies throughout 2021. We end with the phrase of the president of the Union of Travel Agencies, José Luis Méndez: “Travel agents demand greater sensitivity towards our group. We need direct help to guarantee our future”. 12 Vid. Diario de Mallorca, 11.03.2021: www.diariodemallorca.es.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTE4NzM5Nw==