COVID-19: European Union Actions to Support Tourism

Purpose: The main objective of the study is to analyze the European Union's action to combat COVID-19, in particular those activities which have an impact on the tourism sector. The study hypothesized that the development of a crisis situation related to the spread of COVID-19 in China, Japan and Korea was not identified by the EU institutions as a danger to the EU and that this situation was treated with a specific ambivalence until March. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study uses source literature analysis, analysis of legal acts from the EU. Findings: The results of the research confirmed the research hypothesis. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 was treated with a specific ambivalence until March, when it was due to the increasing number of reported infections. The European Union's bodies called on the Member States to take joint action. However, regardless of the relatively late response, EU action is holistic and multisectoral. It includes both actions aimed at reducing the spread of pandemics and measures aimed at providing material support to the health sector and financial support to the countries most affected by the pandemic. Practical Implications: This analysis is the basis for scenario development, forecasts of the development of the EU pandemic situation. Originality/Value: Based on the analysis of the literature, analysis of legal acts from the EU, a research gap was analyzed the European Union's action to combat COVID-19, in particular those activities which have an impact on the tourism sector.