Countries starting to open to tourists following Covid-19 Pandemic

By MiNDFOOD

The stunning Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savuvu was one of the world's first luxury eco-resorts.
The stunning Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savuvu was one of the world's first luxury eco-resorts.
For the many countries around the world that are reliant on tourism dollars, restarting holiday travel is a priority. Countries easing travel restrictions are generally beginning with domestic travel or a "travel bubble" between low-risk countries, but these countries have international holiday-makers on their radar.

With Coronavirus infection rates dropping off in some countries, restrictions are starting to lift. These countries are looking at welcoming tourists to get some much needed tourism dollars pumped back into the economy.

While a ban on overseas travel (with a few exceptions) is currently in place, with many commercial flights suspended, international holidays may seem a long way off, but these countries are getting ready to welcome you as soon as we get the green light.

Caribbean

We'll just leave this here. ISTOCK

Like the sound of a Caribbean getaway? Now may be the time to start planning. Some of the islands already have reopening plans in place. Saint Lucia expects to become the first Caribbean island to reopen to tourists on June 4. Aruba plans to reopen sometime between June 15 and July 1 and the Bahamian Prime Minister has said they are looking at a possible date for commercial travel on or before July 1.

Iceland

Icelandic horses make their way across one of the many stunning landscapes you'll encounter on an Arctic cruise.

Iceland aims to be open to international travellers by June 15, with plans to test all arrivals for COVID-19 at the airport. Anyone testing positive, however, will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Italy

Despite being one of the worse hit countries, Italy has announced it would reopen its borders from June 3, and would no longer require quarantine on arrival. However it may be possible that only Europeans are able to visit in the beginning, as the EU requires member states to keep borders closed to non-Europeans until June 15.

Spain

Vegetarian restaurants in Spain

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the country will reopen to foreign tourists sometime in July saying “Spain needs tourism and tourism needs security”.

Fiji

The stunning Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savuvu was one of the world's first luxury eco-resorts.

Tourism is Fiji’s biggest industry, accounting for 35 per cent of GDP. The Fijian Government wants to see Australian and New Zealand tourists return “as soon as possible” and has formally requested to become part of the “travel bubble” the two countries are planning. Fiji’s national carrier, Fiji Airways, suspended 95 per cent of its international flights on March 20 in response to the pandemic. In early May, it announced the suspensions would continue until the end of June. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said their governments would look at including “members of our broader Pacific family” when the trans-Tasman arrangement was good to go.

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