ICOMIA’s World Marinas Conference Industry Reconnect webinar series, took place over four weeks in October, providing industry insight to over 250+ registered attendees per session. EBI was invited to speak at the second webinar with the focus on “Boating & Tourism with COVID-19 – what’s next”.

Insights on the tourism industry were provided by UNWTO’s Regional Director for Europe, Alessandra Priante. She presented the impact on the global tourism industry and priority areas to reimagine and rebuild a resilient tourism industry.

The session then covered insights on the boating industry in Europe with the challenges and opportunities the pandemic has created, as well as what the next steps to ensure speedy recovery, presented by EBI’s Secretary General Philip Easthill. Besides the initial figures for impact in 2020 for several European countries, it also addressed the measures at EU level to support economic recovery and re-establish transport and tourism. EBI also highlighted the main calls it has put to the EU institutions and is advocating for.