19 May When Will International Travel Return?
An Update From The GDA Network
The coronavirus has suspended flights and closed borders, putting our travel dreams on hold. As life is slowly starting to resume and travel restrictions eased, we are gearing up to welcome our first guests of the season. But when will you be able to travel?
Here’s a country-by-country update on travel around the GDA network:
We understand this is a developing topic and some dates/facts might have changed since time of writing. We will keep this post updated accordingly. Last update: 25/05/2020
THE AMERICAS
Argentina has one of the world’s strictest travel bans, restricting all international commercial flights until 1 September 2020.
Colombia is under countrywide quarantine until at least 25 May, and travel between regions is also highly restricted.
Cuba suspended international travel for tourists until further notice, beginning 2 April.
Regions in Mexico (e.g. Quintana Roo, home to Cancun) plan to reopen on 1 June.
USA is slowly reopening its borders to internal travellers. Tourists arriving from Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia are still not allowed. Maine and Hawaii both have strict 14-day quarantine requirements in place for all out-of-state visitors
ASIA
Since May 1, China has allowed some South Korean business travellers in without a lengthy quarantine—provided they are tested upon arrival and stay at a government facility for 1-2 days while waiting for the results. Travel from outside the country is still not open.
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Egypt has started to reopen its hotels to domestic tourists under 25 per cent capacity until the end of May, and can increase to 50 per cent capacity on 1 June. Reuters also reports that hotels must implement new health measures, there must be a clinic with a resident doctor to regularly screen temperatures and disinfectant equipment must be installed, among other precautionary measures. International flights remain suspended
Morocco remains on lockdown until at least 20th May.
Rwanda is gradually easing the lockdown measures allowing free movement, with people returning to work. But they have introduced a night curfew from 8pm to 5am. Borders remain closed except for essential cargo as well as returning Rwandans.
South Africa began to ease restrictions on 1 May with restaurants allowed to reopen, but only for delivery. Social distancing rules and masks in public will remain mandatory.
Tanzania‘s airports and borders remain open for business with no quarantine requirements on tourists effective 17th May, 2020.
Tunisia started relaxing a nationwide lockdown beginning of May, reopening parts of the food, construction and transport sectors and allowing half of government employees to return to work. Shopping malls, clothing stores and hairdressers are due to reopen on the 24 May.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is beginning to ease some strict lockdown measures, but is still not welcoming tourists. Dubai-based Emirates said it was resuming service to nine international destinations including London, Chicago and Melbourne among other destinations as of May 21st.
EUROPE
In Austria small shops were allowed to reopen on 14 April and all trade was allowed since 1 May. Restaurants opened in mid-May and hotels on 29 May. Its inter-EU borders will reopen on June 15.
The Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have opened their borders to one another, creating a coronavirus “travel bubble” as of May 15th. Border-entry health checks are mandatory and visitors must fill out a form testifying to their good health.
Belgium started easing its strict lockdown restrictions on 4 May and will continue to open parts of the country in a phased way. It is still unclear when tourism will resume.
Bulgaria will lift the ban on tourist travel in the country and reopen small hotels and guest houses on 13 May. Borders with neighbouring Greece and Serbia will open on June 1st, with no quarantine measures. The country will primarily focus on domestic tourism this year, and international travel remains closed until 14 June.
Croatia is in the middle of a slow reopening. Currently, domestic tourism, essential workers and citizens of Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro are allowed into the country under a 14-day quarantine. Croatian borders will be fully opened without restrictions on May 29 with Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Czechia and Slovakia. On June 15th borders with Germany and Poland to be opened. As of 25th May, events for up to 100 pax are allowed inside and up to 300 pax outside.
Finland announced that the borders would reopen for foreign workers in the Schengen zone, including Estonian citizens who work in Finland, since the frontier has been shut down from March 19. Border restrictions were lifted from May 14.
In France, lockdown began coming to an end after 11 May and inbound travel was resumed. Passengers arriving from non-Schengen member states are not allowed to enter the country until June 15, except for essential business travel. Arrivals in France from the Schengen open-border zone, which includes Switzerland & UK, will be exempt from the 14-day quarantine.
Germany’s border with neighbours Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and France were opened under tightly controlled conditions on May 16th. A similar deal with Denmark has been reached, although a date has not yet been announced. Incoming travellers from EU-states including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland & UK will not be asked to self-isolate upon arrival. June 15 is still set as the date to fully relax its borders to inter-EU travel.
Greece started easing lockdown measures on 4 May in a three-part process due to be complete by 1 June. Domestic travel restrictions were lifted on 18 May. City hotels are scheduled to reopen on June 1 followed by seasonal hotels a month later. Country should be fully reopened to tourists by 1 July.
Hungary’s land borders remain closed to foreign visitors and country nationals returning home have to undergo a medical examination. A humanitarian corridor is open for foreigners travelling into neighbouring countries.
Italy will reopen to tourists on 3 June with no restrictions (such as quarantine) upon arrival. However, some regions may implement their own restrictions. Museums, libraries, shops and restaurants were allowed to reopen under physical distancing rules on 18 May.
Ireland is in the middle of a five-phase reopening with hotels, museums and galleries set to reopen 20 July. Pubs won’t reopen until 10 August.
Luxembourg has begun to allow cross-border trips with some of its neighbours, only for essential services and cross-border workers. Some stores have reopened, but schools won’t be fully open until the end of May. Tourism remains forbidden.
Malta is exploring the possibility of so-called ‘safe corridors’ with Luxembourg, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Israel. Travel has been suspended until the end of May.
Netherlands will allow group activities with up to 100 people after July 1. Entry ban for non-EU citizens, the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area has been extended until June 15.
In Poland wearing a face-mask in public is compulsory. Ban on international flights has been extended until June 14, but some domestic flights should resume June 1.
Portugal has set out the exact dates it will reopen hotels and beaches for tourists along with the new rules people will have to follow. Hotels intend to start reopening from June 1. Beaches expected to reopen on June 6. Portugal National Tourism Authority has devised a free hygiene-certification stamp to distinguish “Clean & Safe” tourism enterprises in order to gain visitors’ confidence. Physical distancing will be encouraged, but not enforced by the police.
In Romania no date has been announced for borders reopening to non-essential travel. Hotels, some shops, museums and restaurants are due to open from 15 May, when some direct flights also resume. Terraces and cafes might reopen as of June 1. Summer season on the Romanian seaside scheduled from June 15. Face masks mandatory in enclosed public spaces and on public transport.
In Russia, locals can only travel with a valid permit. Borders remain closed to non-Russian nationals. Russian tourism industry is looking into offering visas valid for multiple visits over a period of up to five years in order to aid recovery.
Slovakia has just reopened the border to neighbours from Austria, Hungary and Czech Republic and all new arrivals are required to quarantine for 14 days. Slovakia has not discussed opening up to outsiders except allowing some residents of nearby countries to come in with recent proof they are uninfected.
Slovenia reopened its borders for EU travellers on May 15th and lifted restrictions on visitors, but there will be health checks for all arrivals. There is also a mandatory quarantine.
Spain has now enforced all travelers arriving in the country from May 15 to at least May 24 to a 14-day quarantine.
Sweden’s borders are open to EU nationals, but are closed to residents of some non-EU countries until 15 June at the earliest. Limited flights operating between London and Stockholm. As Sweden never went into full lockdown, hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and some museums are open. Large gatherings of more than 50 are still prohibited.
Turkey said it would begin to reopen some tourist sites in early May, but there is no timetable for allowing international visitors. The country suspended international flights to and from the country on 28 March.
UK plans to institute a mandatory 14-day quarantine but travellers from France and Ireland would be exempt. Hotels are likely to begin to open in early July.