Luxembourg’s tourism sector is running at 25% of its capacities compared to 2019. In other words, the number of tourists staying for in Luxembourg overnight has dropped 75% compared to last year.
The numbers are particularly low for business tourism.
According to Delles, tourism in Luxembourg’s more rural areas and at the country’s camping sites is on the mend.
The hospitality and events sectors are particularly affected as they were among the first victims to be significantly impacted by the lockdown. As you may remember, the government is trying to help the hospitality sector by offering free vouchers to residents and cross-border workers.
Delles excluded the possibility of the government buying and renting out hotels. This would be unfair competition, he explained.
The minister also said that it was, at this stage, impossible to tell whether or not a second wave of infections could trigger the closure of hotels and restaurants.
If a second wave occurs, health officials will first determine where the new infections took place, Delles said. In other words, it would not make sense to shut down a sector that does not record many new infections.
