Travel Agent spoke with Luís Araújo, president of the European Travel Commission (ETC) on Friday, April 30, to learn the news of how Europe is preparing to welcome U.S. travelers.
The European Travel Commission has been working on two levels, said Araújo. “On a national level, we’re working on how to prepare the offer in terms of welcoming travelers, especially the Americans, who want to come to Europe. I'm talking about safety, I'm talking about a seamless experience to have the best experience possible and the safest experience in any country in Europe,” he said.
You can watch the full interview to find out the details of the coordinated plan to welcome back travelers to Europe as well as exactly what the Digital Green Pass entails here:
On another level, he said, the ETC is trying to coordinate the communication and the information it has for each country. It’s also advocating for a more coordinated approach in terms of opening Europe. “Yesterday we got approval for the Digital Green Certificates by the European Parliament,” Araújo said. “The intention of developing a Digital Green Certificate was launched the First of March during the Ministers of Tourism meeting in Lisbon. It only took two months to approve it with all the different protocols. A process like this would have typically taken two years, just to give you an idea. So, it's really a very positive sign.”
There are very positive signs all across Europe, he noted. The spread of COVID is on the decline and fewer people are being hospitalized. Vaccinations are rolling out, albeit on different levels in different countries. “We have a stronger light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.