Tour operators seek 5 economic solutions if the new anti-epidemic measures are adopted

Managers of 132 companies that are members of the Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents "Future for Tourism” Association on November 24 issued an open letter to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and cabinet ministers in response to the government measures to curb the pandemic.

"People's health and lives are a top priority. That is why we in the association support the government's measures to control the pandemic. But as an organization called to protect the rights of tour operators and travel agents, we insist on five economic solutions that would improve liquidity and employment in the industry, "said Pavlina Ivanova, chair of the board.

They are:

- 10% grant scheme for national financing for liquidity of tour operators and travel agents.

- Introduction of a social measure for non-working tour operators and travel agents in the ratio 80/0.

- Special low-interest credit product for tourist operators and tourist agents, due to the accounting specifics of the work, impossibility for material security, deteriorated financial exposure, and approaching deadline for reimbursement of prepaid trips of 320,000 tourists.

- Imposition of a moratorium on bank loans and interest-free deferral of all payments to the state budget for a period of 6 months.

- Legislative initiative to extend the term of the "Tour Operator's Liability" insurance for the months of closed business.

The proposals are in line with the guidelines on the temporary financial framework given by the EC on March 19 and updated on October 13. The measures are already in force and have shown their effectiveness after implementation in a number of European countries, the association reminds.