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Immigration control at Frankfurt Airport (archive picture): From Sunday onwards, all not fully vaccinated or recovered travelers from the age of 12 need a negative corona test
Photo: Boris Roessler / dpa
Outside in front of the entrance to the Rifugio Averau, it looks as if the operators of the Dolomiten-Hütte are taking the fight against the coronavirus, which has so afflicted Italy so seriously, seriously.
Next to a bottle of disinfectant there is a bold note: "It is compulsory to wear a mask and to keep a distance of at least one meter."
But it just looks like it.
Inside, three guests crowd close to the bar, all without a mask.
The rag hangs under the barman's nose.
Immediately he announces the top rule of the house to the newcomer - hiking boots in the cellar!
After a corona vaccination certificate or negative test result, he does not ask: neither me nor the other residents of the perhaps 20 square meter bunk bed bedroom that ten complete strangers share for one night.
When I asked if I could sit outside to eat that evening, the waitress asks back:
"Why?"
"Because of the virus."
"What kind of virus?"
And so we dine inside, side by side.
Lucky that I am vaccinated.
Nothing learned from the first summer of the pandemic
Since this Sunday, stricter rules have been in place in Germany for those returning to travel.
All people at least 12 years old who have neither been vaccinated nor recovered now need a negative corona test to cross the border.
It is a renewed restriction of freedom: annoying, annoying, sometimes costly for the travelers.
But there is no other way.
Because those who return to travel are increasingly bringing the virus back in.
Also because some hoteliers and restaurant operators in Europe's holiday destinations have learned nothing from the first summer of the pandemic.
Back when they set up the disinfectant dispensers.
Again, they take the coronavirus lightly.
Again they are denouncing their business associations and politicians who promised tourists safe vacations in their country.
And again, Europe's tourism industry will probably pay dearly for it.
I traveled to three countries this summer: Italy, Slovenia and Austria.
They all depend on the tourist euros;
the leisure and vacation sector accounts for between 12 and 15 percent of their economic output.
And all of them require proof of vaccination or recovery or negative tests for entry.
Theoretically.
In practice, I was not checked once when I crossed five borders.
And so far I have only been asked for my vaccination certificate when I was on vacation in Austria.
Now and again.
"You never need the mask now"
Austria actually applies the 3G rule: All people who want to visit a restaurant or hotel, for example, have to be vaccinated, recovered or currently tested.
The operators must check this with the guests.
And collect their contact details for this purpose.
In fact, on average, I am only asked for my vaccination certificate every second visit - and very sporadically for my contact details.
How are the health authorities supposed to track outbreaks and warn infected vacationers before driving home?
Masks are a particularly sensitive topic in Austria.
Despite the Delta, the Viennese government lifted the obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in restaurants on July 1st.
When a couple of friends went to a Viennese coffeehouse that first day, an employee at the entrance asked the two of them to take off their masks, it was now "over with".
And when I approach restaurants in Austria, I almost always receive a friendly admonition: "You never need the masks now."
All of this is reminiscent of last summer.
At that time the Austrian government abolished the mask requirement almost completely;
Anyone who wore one in the supermarket was looked at.
These and other lax regulations contributed to the fact that Austria temporarily had one of the highest infection rates in the world in autumn - and that hotels and restaurants had to remain closed for months in winter.
The extensive failure of the ski season cost the catering industry billions;
Thousands of employees had to work short-time.
At times the economy contracted more strongly than in almost all other euro countries.
So there is nothing to do with a safe vacation
The latest developments suggest evil.
In Slovenia the seven-day incidence almost tripled in July, in Austria it increased fivefold, in Italy it increased sevenfold.
Bad courses are not as common as in the first months of the pandemic and the absolute numbers of infections with values between 27 and 59 cases per 100,000 inhabitants are still comparatively moderate.
But in Spain or the Netherlands they have risen so high that unvaccinated returnees in Germany have to be in quarantine for at least five days.
This will put off many potential visitors from a trip to Tenerife or Texel.
Sure: mouth and nose protection and contact forms, vaccination certificates and minimum distance regulations certainly do not create that holiday feeling.
They often cost time and money.
But if irresponsible restaurateurs lead their customers into believing that the pandemic is over, they are permanently damaging everyone - the tourists, themselves. And the many responsible people in their guild: all hosts who stick to the rules because they give their guests a safe Want to offer vacation.
The national tourism associations and politicians must intervene against this.
With the help of arguments and then, if necessary, with penalties.
The Italian government is taking a step in this direction.
She introduces a health passport, in which corona vaccinations, recovered illnesses and tests are noted.
You have to show the pass from Friday when you visit restaurants, bars, concerts or events.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated, recovered or currently tested must stay outside.
If operators fail to meet their control obligations, the facility can be temporarily closed.
And so the operators of the Rifugio Averau will soon have to be interested in the Corona protection of their guests.
