As the Chamber emphasized in its position, “geopolitical tensions and disruptions in air traffic and the implementation of tourist events result in the need to organize additional returns to the country, changes to trip programs and to provide travelers with logistic and organizational support.”
As PIT explains, the release of TFP funds would enable tourism organizers to use the loan mechanism to finance extraordinary costs arising from the crisis. The fund is not a form of non-repayable support from the state, but a repayable instrument whose aim is to temporarily ensure financial liquidity while securing the interests of travelers.
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Travel agencies in difficulty due to the conflict in the Middle East. TFP can help them
The Chamber indicated that this solution is of particular importance for small and medium-sized travel agencies, for which sudden and unforeseen financial burdens may constitute a serious operational challenge.
The Tourist Aid Fund was established in 2020 and is a separate account in the Insurance Guarantee Fund. It is financed from contributions and payments from tour operators and from refunds of previously granted funds. The fund is intended to support tourism entrepreneurs in the event of extraordinary circumstances in the country or at the place of the tourist event.
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Conflict in the Middle East. Countries are closing their airspace
Due to Saturday's airstrikes on Iran by the US and Israel, many Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) reported on Saturday that there is a high risk to civil aviation in the airspace of both Iran and neighboring countries where US bases are located. It recommended that operators refrain from flying.
LOT Polish Airlines has canceled flights to Dubai until March 6 and to Riyadh until March 8. Connections to Tel Aviv remain suspended until March 18 inclusive.
On Tuesday, during a press conference before the government meeting, Prime Minister Donald Tusk assured, referring to the situation of Poles in the Middle East, that the government is prepared for an evacuation action, in terms of logistics, primarily planes are prepared.
