If the "lockdown light" becomes a "hard knock-out" ...Leisure industry associations appeal again to the political leaders

The German leisure industry firmly rejects the recent imminent closures of amusement parks and attractions. The hygiene concepts have proven to be effective under the strict control of operators and authorities in recent months, explains the Association of German Amusement Parks and Attractions (VDFU) in its just issued statement. "The rising infection figures are due in particular to failures in public spaces," says VDFU President Friedhelm von Landsberg-Velen: "It is not acceptable to make medium-sized companies pay the bill for this by imposing renewed operating restrictions or even closures. (The complete german language statement can be read here).

And the European Waterpark Association e.V. (EWA) as the quality association of European leisure pools and thermal spas is today clearly calling for a more differentiated approach in the discussion about a second lockdown with its call "Leave the pools open!" There is no reason to regard public pools as places with a higher risk of infection ... Elaborate hygiene concepts and a limitation of the number of visitors have made it possible for guests to feel comfortable and safe and there were neither sources of infection nor "hot spots" in public pools, says the letter from EWA to the state governments. (Read the full letter here.) The representatives of the trade associations agree that a second lockdown could have major, possibly irreversible consequences for an entire industry with hundreds of thousands of jobs. (eap)