Tourism – Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne at the informal video conference of EU tourism ministers (1 March 2021)

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, attended the informal meeting of EU tourism ministers on March 1. In attendance were European Commissioner Thierry Breton; Gloria Guevara, President of the World Tourism and Travel Council; and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The ministers discussed developments in the pandemic and the conditions for gradually restoring mobility within the EU once the health situation permits. They called for strengthening coordination among States and developing common screening and testing tools and indicators.

With this sector in crisis, Mr. Lemoigne underscored the importance of developing new initiatives making it possible to move toward a more resilient, more sustainable form of tourism. He stressed the need for supporting tourism professionals and working with them to keep them informed about available European funding.