European Tourism Losing More Than $1 Billion a Month From Virus: EU Commissioner

A.Davey  / Flickr

The Art Nouveau Palace Hotel Prague. European commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton on Monday told a French television station that the estimated financial toll of the virus on the tourism industry in Europe amounts to roughly $1.1 billion per month. A.Davey / Flickr

Skift Take: It’s not just Chinese tourists who aren’t visiting Europe anymore. Expect the economic losses to steepen.

— Rosie Spinks

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Ryanair Called Out by UK Regulator for Misleading Environmental Claims

Anna Zvereva  / Flickr

Ryanair aircraft. The UK advertising advertising watchdog labelled one of the airline’s environmental claims misleading. Anna Zvereva / Flickr

Skift Take: Despite all the evidence to the contrary, the airline industry is desperate to inflate its green credentials. This is just one example of a worrying trend.

— Patrick Whyte

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Cathay Pacific Calls on 27,000 Workers to Take Unpaid Leave As Airline Struggles From Virus Outbreak

Vincent Thian  / Associated Press

Cathay Pacific Airways planes parked at the Hong Kong International Airport. The airline is asking its 27,000 employees to take three weeks of unpaid leave while the Hong Kong carrier struggles with plunging revenue due to China’s virus outbreak. Vincent Thian / Associated Press

Skift Take: This is an extraordinary move from Cathay Pacific, but it shows the kind of knife-edge conditions it was operating under.

— Patrick Whyte

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How South African Tourism Can Get Its Mojo Back

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection

Shown here is Kadoro, the restaurant at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat in the Cederberg Mountains in the Western Cape, South Africa. The Red Carnation Hotel Collection

Skift Take: South African tourism is on the decline. There are several factors at play, but given the diversity of experiences that can be had in this country of 58 million people, what’s needed is a new and sharper narrative.

— Colin Nagy

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Travel Agency Expansion Heats Up in the Face of Staffing Challenges

Avoya Travel

The living wall in Avoya Travel’s new innovation center in San Diego County, Calif. The agency said it added 500 travel advisors in 2019. Avoya Travel

Skift Take: Strong sales are giving travel agencies the means to expand, but they face challenges in finding experienced travel advisors. As a way around this, some are looking to acquire existing agencies or attract more independents to their host operations.

— Maria Lenhart

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