In the past months, our lives have changed due to the lockdown we had to go under. The time spent at home didn’t feel at all like a vacation. On the contrary. And the thought that a vacation outside the country might become an impossible dream this year might have felt like a torment.
This doesn’t just affect people’s emotional states, but the people working in the tourism industry all over the world, and countries’ economies too. Taking all these under consideration and relying on the apparent receding of the coronavirus, the European Commission issued promising guidelines about the reopening of the tourism industry in Europe’s countries.
Not all the countries have decided what traveling will look like this summer. But some of them did. The restrictions will be lifted and people will be allowed to travel only in and from countries where the contamination levels are under control. The process will begin on June 15.
Greece has already reopened 500 beaches. The season will open on June 15, and international flights will take tourists to Greece starting July 1st.
The most attractive side of Greece reopening tourism is that it is one of the countries where the virus didn’t do much damage. The lockdown measures there were imposed very early on and in a very strict manner. It was the best economical strategy, as Greece is a highly touristic country.
Portugal too is reopening the gates for tourists. Even if they won’t have to go through quarantine time, the foreign minister warns that travelers will be health checked when they get in the country.
Spain will become a tourist destination once again starting July 1, when foreigners arriving the country won’t have to go through the 14 days quarantine at the arrival.
The Spanish Prime Minister is encouraging the Spaniards to opt for domestic vacations. It would be safer and economically beneficial.
Italy will resume tourism starting July 3, when interregional and international transfers will reopen. Still, the Italian Prime Minister has released the news with prudence. He said that it all depends on how the coronavirus contamination will evolve. If the levels continue to be encouraging, that it will all go as planned.
Sweden is one of the Northern Europe atypical cases that didn’t impose the lockdown. The contamination and death numbers coronavirus-related are high, but they didn’t go near Italy’s or Spain’s. The only measure imposed the last months was a ban for non-EU foreigners, except the UK, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
The Netherlands, just like Sweden, remained open for travelers coming from Schengen countries and the UK.
A full health declaration was the only required formality. So, it can be considered as a vacation destination too.
Iceland followed the same course of action and enabled free movement for those traveling form Schengen space. Iceland was a beat cautious and travelers had to stay in a 14-day quarantine period when they’ve arrived in the country. Starting June 15, that will be replaced with coronavirus tests.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania created an enclave and decided to let only residents form the other two countries to travel inside their borders.
Austria intends to create a similar enclave starting June 15. Austria will allow only residents from Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary to fly in.