Rising Delta virus, absent Brits dampen Europe's tourism hopes

A Eurowings plane lands in Mallorca following a decision by the UK government to ease the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) travel restrictions to the island, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

* EU Covid travel certificate launches July 1 * But summer tourism barely half normal levels * Industry warns of impact on businesses, jobs While not a complete wash-out, the summer tourism season vital to southern Europe's economies will be less than sizzling as the Delta coronavirus spreads and travel hurdles keep British and other sun-seekers at home. A European Union Covid-19 travel certificate launched on Thursday may help some make trips but arrivals to tourist hotspots from Portugal to Croatia are set to remain well down on normal levels, putting businesses and hospitality jobs at risk. ‘The recovery of tourism in Portugal has come to a halt,’ Raul Martins, head of the country's AHP hotel association said of new travel restrictions from Britain and Germany, normally lucrative markets for Portugal's beaches, restaurants and clubs.