AMSTERDAM - Tour operator Corendon reduces the workforce by a quarter as a result of the corona crisis. About a hundred employees lose their jobs. It is partly about not renewing temporary contracts, but there are also forced layoffs, CEO Steven van der Heijden confirms on Wednesday after an interview with the Dutch newspaper AD.

Corendon has requested additional credit from the banks to help the company through the current crisis.

"As soon as the industry and our company improve again, we will be the first to recruit the people who are going out now," says Van der Heijden. The travel sector has been particularly affected by the measures resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19.

Corendon's CEO, who has been in the industry for quite some time, speaks of a disaster year and "a live disaster exercise". In early February, Van der Heijden was not so concerned about the new virus, because it seemed to be limited to Asia at the time and his company is mainly active around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

Recently, like other tour operators, Corendon has shifted its focus to closer destinations and holidays within the Netherlands through a partnership with EuroParcs.