Corona crisis: Another popular holiday destination opens - Germans get the “green light”

Travel in spite of Corona: Many borders could open again in Europe from June 15th. The news ticker.

• Many Germans already want to make plans for their summer vacation . So far, however, there is a worldwide travel warning until June 14th.
• Long-distance bus trips are possible again (update from May 28; 8:51 a.m.), but at Pentecost traffic jams (update from May 28; 8:34 a.m.)
• Now many holiday destinations in Europe are facing a new tourist start.
• Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany. You can also find current case numbers in Germany here as a map *. The following recommendations for corona protective measures * are currently available.
• +++ This ticker has ended. From now on you can find news about holidays in the Corona crisis here. +++

Update from June 1st, 8:34 pm : The Czech Republic will also reopen its border from June 15th for tourists from Germany. The basis of the Czech cabinet decision is a new traffic light model that divides countries into risk groups. In addition to Germany and all other neighboring countries of the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Croatia are also given the green light . 

Foreigners from countries marked in red and orange (including Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden) must show a negative corona test upon entry . Germans traditionally represent the largest group of foreign visitors to the Czech Republic. 

Corona crisis: Two countries will open soon - Germans do not have to be in quarantine, the British do

Update of May 30, 6.15 p.m .:  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced last week that the country's borders would be reopened to foreign tourists from July 1. Since May 15, Spain has had a quarantine obligation to enter Spain. This should be canceled with the opening of the border .

Summer vacation in the Corona crisis: Athens reopens for tourism

Now Spain wants to let German, French and Scandinavian tourists into the country before July as part of a pilot project . As announced by the Ministry of Tourism in Madrid on Saturday, the project will currently affect the archipelagos of the Canaries and the Balearic Islands . On the islands, entry restrictions could be relaxed on June 22nd. Other regions such as Andalusia and Catalonia could also become part of the project.

"We mainly work with German travel providers, " said a ministry spokesman for the AFP news agency. British tourists traditionally make up the largest group of Spanish tourists, but they have to be patient because of the corona situation in their own country. Tourism accounts for twelve percent of the gross domestic product in Spain. 

Summer vacation in the Corona crisis: Denmark opens its borders from June 15th

Update from May 29, 3:30 p.m .:  Denmark can also be visited again from June 15. On that date, the country reopened its borders to tourists from Germany , Norway, Iceland and Scandinavia. This was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen  in Copenhagen.

Frederiksen wants to present a plan "for a controlled and gradual reopening of summer tourism" on May 29th at the latest. Anyone who owns a summer house in Denmark as a German or wants to visit his partner in the country can already enter again.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

© AFP / PHILIP DAVALI

Summer vacation in the Corona crisis: Athens reopens for tourism

From June 15th, tourists from 29 countries will also be able to travel to Greece again. Among these states are Germany , Austria , and Switzerland . The health authorities will carry out  random checks for the coronavirus. This was announced by the Greek Ministry of Tourism.

Great Britain , the most important country from which vacationers come to Greece after Germany, is not on the list of the first countries for which there is no quarantine requirement. On July 1, Athens plans to review the situation with the corona pandemic in other countries and add new countries to the quarantine-free list, Athens said.

Summer vacation despite Corona: wanderlust or a thirst for travel - current survey from the ZDF Politbarometer  

Update from May 29, 12:24 p.m .: Do the Germans even want to go on summer vacation ? And if so - where to? The ZDF Politbarometer published a current survey on Friday. Corona spoiled many people's desire to travel. 

• According to the ZDF political barometer, 31 percent of people in Germany want to spend their holidays in Germany. 
• 13 percent are moving to other European countries in summer and one percent are planning a trip outside Europe. 
• 37 percent said they did not take a vacation.
• 18 percent are still undecided.

Holidays despite Corona: France opens campsites and holiday homes

Update from May 28th, 10:45 pm: In large parts of France , tourist accommodations such as campsites or holiday homes will soon be able to reopen for holidaymakers. In the areas classified as green, this will be possible from June 2, announced French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe. The colors green, orange and red indicate, among other things, how badly the region is affected by the corona virus . Only the greater Paris area and the French Guiana and Mayotte overseas territories are classified as orange according to the new government assessment. There, openings of the accommodations are planned from June 22nd.

Holidays in Croatia despite Corona: entry with hardly any restrictions

As part of the further corona loosening , the 100-kilometer limit will also cease to apply from June 2. This measure had proven to be very useful to curb the spread of the virus, but was no longer justified, Philippe said. Since the beginning of the easing on May 11th, people have only been able to move more than 100 kilometers from their place of residence with good reason. These include professional obligations or family emergencies. A form is currently required for appropriate trips.

Update of May 28, 9:05 p.m .: The  holiday destination Croatia  allows citizens to enter again without proof of reasons. This was decided by the government of the EU partner in Zagreb. Previously, travelers on the border had to provide accommodation or confirmation of property or boat ownership in Croatia. The easing also affects the citizens of nine other EU countries: Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

In future, travelers from these countries will only have to explain where they will be at the border and how they can be reached. This should enable them to be found when there are new corona infections in their environment . To avoid long waiting times, holidaymakers can download a form from the website "entercroatia.mup.hr".

Summer vacation on Malloca in Corona times - "It's hard to imagine" 

Update of May 28, 11:38 a.m .: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has little hope of summer vacation at crowded tourist hotspots. "It is difficult to imagine how you can properly comply with the Ballermann hygiene and clearance rules," said Söder of the  Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung  with a view of the popular Balearic island of Mallorca. Reason and zest for life are not contradictory. "And this year is just another vacation year than usual."

Söder urged caution when vacationing and warned of a second lockdown. "We can see from individual examples these days how quickly a hundred new infections can develop again." Therefore, caution must remain a top priority. Whoever thinks Corona will go away on its own is naive, said Söder. 

Spain, to which Mallorca also belongs, does not want to let tourists enter again until July. 

Holidays despite Corona: With mouth and nose protection - Flixbus starts operating again

Update from May 28, 8:51 a.m .: Travel by long-distance bus is possible again. Flixbus starts operating again. The buses are thoroughly disinfected after each trip, the company says. New rules apply to passengers: wearing mouth and nose protection is compulsory and they may only get on and off at the rear door. The toilets on board remain closed and there is no snack sale. First, Flixbus heads for 50 destinations. 

Traveling in Corona Times: Traffic Jam at Pentecost? 

Update of May 28, 8:34 a.m .: If you are traveling by car on Pentecost weekend , you have to be prepared for long traffic jams , the ADAC warns. Many Germans are planning a short trip by car to the North and East Sea or the mountains. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg start the Pentecost holidays, but they end in Saxony-Anhalt. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, Tuesday (June 2nd) is still free of school. 

By the way: Because of the Corona crisis, trucks are allowed to drive on Sundays and public holidays. Citizens should refrain from tourist trips abroad. Border controls are eased, but entry into France, Austria and Switzerland is still only permitted for a demonstrable and valid reason.

Border regulations of neighboring countries to Germany.

© graphic ADAC

Holidays in Corona times: Switzerland wants to open borders

Update from May 27, 5:58 p.m .:  Switzerland continues to loosen its restrictions due to the low new corona numbers. As of Saturday,  more than five people can meet again , but the number will initially be  limited to 30 , as the government announced on Wednesday. The  distance and hygiene rules  continue to apply initially.

In addition to the planned opening of the borders to Germany, Austria and France on June 15, Switzerland also wants to restore freedom of travel to other Schengen countries , including Italy, by July 6 at the latest .

Vacation despite Corona: Cyprus allows Germans to enter, but not the British

Update of May 27, 4:37 p.m .: The island of Cyprus is opening up to tourism. From June 20, for example, vacationers from Germany and twelve other countries can fly to Cyprus without corona tests. For six countries, including Switzerland and Croatia, entry with a corona virus test is permitted. Entry from Great Britain and Russia is initially prohibited. These lists would change depending on the situation, the tourism vice minister Savvas Perdios announced on Wednesday on state television.

Corona vacation: Package travelers should be able to return previous vouchers   

Update from May 27th, 1:47 pm: Not only the announcements of many countries that they want to open their borders again soon for tourism are good news for vacationers. Now there is also good news for people who have booked a package tour and who have accepted a voucher instead of a reimbursement : they should be able to return the vouchers at the will of the federal government . This emerges from a bill passed by the cabinet on Wednesday.

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Merkur.de (@ merkur.de) on May 27, 2020 at 7:22 pm PDT

Corona holiday at Pentecost: Netherlands and Cuxhaven deterred

Update from May 27, 12:51 p.m .: It is hardly possible to travel to other European countries at Pentecost. The Netherlands appealed to the Germans on Pentecost weekend to travel across the border only with a booking. Day tourists please stay at home.

“I would like to advise everyone not to come to the Netherlands with any luck. Reservations have to be made in advance and there will be a so-called check conversation everywhere, ”said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the“ Rheinische Post ”.

The Mayor of  Cuxhaven also asks day trippers not to visit the coastal city. The Nordseeheilbad Cuxhaven is particularly popular with holidaymakers because of its beaches. On the beach promenade, there is a “right ban” to maintain minimum clearances. The mayor's easing is too quick, however, and not just in tourism. The weather forecast for summer 2020 is extreme. Some speak of heat and drought, a weather service draws a "catastrophe scenario" for Germany and Europe.

The North Sea island of Helgoland, on the other hand, opens up again for day tourists - of course, under strict hygiene rules. On board the ferries, wearing a nose and throat protector and complying with the distance rules are mandatory. Swimming pools and saunas are closed, however. If you want to go to the island, you also have to fill out an entry document. 

Even after the restrictions in the corona crisis were relaxed, the catering industry is in a dramatic situation. A wave of bankruptcy threatens. *

Update from May 27, 12.44 p.m .: The Federal Government will probably not deal with the possible end of the worldwide travel warning for German tourists from June 15 on Wednesday. Deutschlandfunk (Dlf) reports that the topic has been postponed to the next cabinet meeting on June 3.  

Summer vacation despite Corona: chances are very good in Europe 

Update from May 27th, 10:26 am : Vacation trips to other European countries are very likely for Germans during the summer vacation, said SPD foreign politician Nils Schmid. The European countries would have got the corona pandemic under control, said Schmid on Wednesday on Deutschlandfunk. Schmid also referred to similar safety precautions as in Germany in the other countries, referring to distance rules and mask requirements.

This allows a careful opening of travel, said the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD in the Bundestag. "The chances are very good that the global travel warning will be lifted on June 15th," Nils Schmid told Deutschlandfunk.

In this context, he also spoke of a sign of European solidarity with states that are heavily dependent on tourism. You shouldn't completely ruin the holiday season. Nevertheless, it is clear that one must continue to react to the infection process at short notice, emphasized Schmid.

Traveling in spite of Corona: Corridor for vacation in Italy

Update from May 26, 6.40 p.m .:  Tourism in South Tyrol has been starting up again through the openings of the hotels since Monday (May 25). The region has now come up with an unconventional tactic when it comes to attracting holidaymakers: in the future, tourists will be offered free tests for the corona virus.

Summer vacation: Corona tests for South Tyrol tourists planned as a "service"

Governor Arno Kompscher described the offer only as a "service" for visitors, the test is not mandatory. That was explained on Tuesday by the radio operator Rai 1 . The tests that are now to be integrated into the hotel offerings are both antibody blood tests * and PCR tests *.

The South Tyrol region is increasingly promoting holidaymakers, preferably from Germany. The governor has already affirmed that transit through Austria poses no problems (see update from May 26, 9:11 am). Italy will open its borders to incoming EU citizens on June 3, and Composer expects no restrictions for German tourists from June 15 . 

South Tyrol registered a total of 2,600 infections and 290 deaths during the corona pandemic.

Summer vacation despite Corona: Greece is already looking forward to tourists

Update of May 26, 14:41: A holiday in foreign countries ? A few weeks ago, these dreams were blocked, but now the summer vacation is still within reach. While Italy, the favorite destination of many Germans, will soon clear the way for tourists again, Greece also seems to be looking forward to many tourists. 

In an interview with Bild , the country's head of government, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated that the route for tourism was clear for direct flights to the islands from July 1 at the latest. From this point on, holidaymakers would no longer have to expect general tests at the airport. 

Although the country apparently only has a few active people, Mitsotakis explains that vacationers are told exactly where the nearest health facility is near them. "So we pay very close attention to organizing our health care so that people - including our population - feel safe," the Prime Minister of Greece said in an interview with the newspaper. 

Now everything is happening very quickly: Germans get corridor for Italy vacation - "I can guarantee ..."

Update from May 26, 9:11 am: Summer vacation in Italy is within reach for German tourists. After Pentecost it should be possible again according to Merkur * information. Italy wants to open its borders again on June 3 . And even if Austria does not want to remove its barriers for tourists until June 15, Germans should be able to travel to Italy before that.

Austria will let tourists through if they "cross Tyrol without a stay and the exit is ensured," as a spokesman for the Interior Ministry in Vienna told the newspaper. In order to prove that they want to go to Italy, vacationers at the border would have to show a hotel booking or similar. Governor of South Tyrol Arno Kompscher said to the Merkur in Munich : “I can guarantee that the holidaymakers will arrive with us without any problems.

How long am I contagious if I have the corona virus? A study could now provide answers to this question. Another study confirmed suspicion of infection in previously recovered patients.

Summer vacation despite corona virus: Germany will soon lift travel warnings for the EU

Update from May 26, 6:14 a.m .: As of June 15, the Federal Government wants to lift the worldwide travel warning for 31 European countries. This emerges from the draft of a key point paper entitled "Criteria for the Enabling of European Tourism" , which may possibly be decided on Wednesday in the cabinet and is available to the German Press Agency. The further development of the corona pandemic is a prerequisite, it is said.

In addition to Germany's 26 partner countries in the EU , travel warnings are also to be issued for Great Britain and four countries in the Schengen area free of border controls that are not members of the EU: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Start signal for summer vacation despite Corona: travel warning should fall

With the lifting of the travel warning you want to give the start signal for cross-border summer vacation in good time before the holiday season. One is guided by the idea that "the revival of tourism is important for travelers and the German travel industry as well as for economic stability in the respective target countries", says the draft from the Federal Foreign Office.

The travel warning is to be replaced by individual travel advice, which should show the risks for each individual country. In order to ensure the best possible protection for tourists against a corona infection, the Federal Government in the EU wants to work for a number of common criteria. Among other things, she suggests that the upper limit of 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants be taken over by the other European countries within seven days. In Germany, if this limit is exceeded, anti-corona measures that have already been abolished will be reintroduced.

Researchers from Munich now want to have identified a marker that could be used to predict how a corona disease works.

Summer vacation despite Corona: Eurowings with embarrassing flight breakdown

Update of May 25, 12:34 p.m .: Germans, like many other Europeans, hope that, despite the Corona crisis of 2020 , they can enjoy a summer vacation . Many potential travel destinations are already loosening their restrictions. However, Eurowings was now a bit too fast with a flight. 

On Saturday, the first Airbus A 320, which wanted to fly to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia , had to fly back to its starting airport in Düsseldorf. That reports ntv . The Olbia airport was closed until June 24 for international flights.

This restriction was actually generally visible, as a spokesman for the Lufthansa subsidiary admitted according to the report on Monday. It was in the so-called "Notice to Airmen", which must be taken into account on every flight. However, there was a misunderstanding when interpreting them, according to Eurowings. 

The passengers were rebooked. After all, this was not a big effort: it should only have been two travelers.

Summer vacation despite Corona: announcements from Spain, Italy and Denmark give hope

Update from May 25, 11.30 a.m .:  Vacation in Spain in July ? According to the Spanish Minister of Tourism Reyes Maroto , this is "coherent". As reported by n-tv, she spoke to the radio station Onda Cero regarding this. 

As a result, foreigners should be able to go on vacation to Spain again from June. Until then, the obligation to go into a two-week self-quarantine is likely to be lifted, according to the Maroto. 

How is the Corona crisis going on in Germany? Now are details on the plans of the

Federal leaked in relation to the corona measures.

The United States is hardest hit internationally by the pandemic. US President Donald Trump now wants to tackle easing.

Summer vacation despite Corona: Denmark, Italy and Greece with great relaxation for tourists

Update of May 25, 9:22 p.m .:  From this Monday, the corona restrictions have been relaxed in several countries. In Italy , for example, swimming pools and sports facilities open . Bars and restaurants as well as beaches and parks had already been reopened. 

The next big wave of easing in the Corona measures will also come into effect in the Czech Republic on Monday. Restaurants , bars and cafes can open their interiors . Hotels and pensions as well as indoor and outdoor pools are opening their gates again. Castles and palaces welcome visitors. Sports events with a total of up to 300 participants and spectators are given the green light. In all cases, special hygiene rules apply.

And there are also easements in Greece . Here too R estaurants, bars and cafés reopen.

Italy relaxes its corona restrictions. In Rome, many visit restaurants and cafes again.

© dpa / Cecilia Fabiano

Summer vacation despite Corona: German holidaymakers are allowed to cross the Danish border again - on one condition

Update from May 24th, 9:18 pm:  German holidaymakers can again take the Sylt ferry via Denmark to the island. Denmark now allows ferry passengers to cross the German-Danish border again, said Tim Kunstmann, Managing Director of the Rømø-Sylt Line, on Sunday evening. A prerequisite is a booking confirmation of the Sylt ferry and the accommodation or the campsite on Sylt . Denmark should only be a transit country.

The Sylt ferry will again use two ferries from Wednesday (May 27) and will therefore offer up to 30 daily departures for the upcoming Pentecost weekend. The trips with "SyltExpress" and "RömöExpress" are now bookable. Because of the corona epidemic, passengers are likely to remain on the car deck in the vehicle during the crossing if they want, Kunstmann continues.

The daily use of two ferries was originally planned from April 30th. However, the closure of the German-Danish border on March 14 and the North Sea islands from March 16 in the wake of the pandemic thwarted the plans of the Sylt ferry. Since then, only one ship has sailed with a reduced schedule. It took supply vehicles with them for the supermarkets on Sylt, for example.

Vacation despite Corona: Turkey hopes for German tourists

Update from May 24, 2020 : In March, Germany issued a worldwide travel warning until June 14 due to the corona pandemic. The borders with neighboring EU countries have so far been closed to tourists. Numerous travelers are prevented from traveling back and forth.

Video: the Mallorca update

The global travel warning for all EU countries is to be lifted before the summer holidays. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wants to replace this with individual travel information. How to deal with countries outside the EU is still unclear.

The Turkish government expects the federal government to lift its worldwide travel warning for Turkey before the summer holidays. Turkey is ready to receive tourists from abroad from mid-June, the Turkish ambassador in Berlin, Ali Kemal Aydin told the news agency dpa . 

"It is obvious that, unlike many other countries, we have successfully overcome the Covid 19 crisis," Aydin told the dpa . Turkey had previously defined the necessary precautions for safe tourism. Air traffic is already in preparation. After domestic flights, according to Aydin, flight operations are expected to be gradually expanded to include international flights before mid-June.

Vacation despite Corona: Spain sets border opening - Tui boss recommends five vacation countries

First report from May 23, 2020

Madrid - Large parts of the Spanish population live from tourism , but measures are continuing in the country hard hit by the Corona pandemic . A government announcement has now dashed hopes of resuming tourism soon. These grew as Corona hotspot Italy set the border opening for visitors from June 3 .

Summer vacation / Corona: time for border opening in Spain announced 

"From July onwards , the reception of foreign tourists will be resumed under safe conditions," announced Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in a speech to the population on Saturday. The politician also said that they guarantee "that the tourists will not take any risks and that they will not pose any risks to us."

Even Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos cannot tell the increasingly troubled population good news. "We can not entry permit of foreigners, while we undergo the Spanish population is still a curfew." The pressure on the government will not lower. Rallies and protests in the country's major cities call for Sanchez's resignation.

The #Corona crisis hits #Spain particularly hard - the measures are only slowly being eased. Tourists are only allowed to re-enter in July. Meanwhile, thousands of Spaniards are taking to the streets. #Coronavirus https://t.co/v7mdsnzehN

Summer vacation / Corona: Tui boss announces Mallorca flights - Spain extends emergency

The first easing of the lockdown in Spain had already started , but the emergency was extended until June 6 . With the announcements by Tui CEO Fritz Joussen that "in mid / late June air traffic to Mallorca would be resumed", they had leaned a little too far out the window. "From the end of June we want to fly again on time for the summer holidays ," said the Tui boss to the "Rheinische Post" in Düsseldorf. 

The CEO of the travel group Tui, Joussen, announces the resumption of flight operations to European tourist destinations in the course of June. # TUI #Urlaub #Tourismushttps: //t.co/S8Kxpxxcsm

The popular holiday countries Austria, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Bulgaria are also very well prepared, said the Tui boss. The hotel season in these countries should start on July 1st at the latest. There is currently a dialogue with Turkey. "There will be a dynamic of openings because there is no reason for a permanent lockdown of tourism."

According to the virologist Hendrik Streeck, we are not facing a second wave of infection, but it is not the time to give the all-clear.

Markus Söder is asked about the end of the mask requirement and responds with an extreme answer.

According to a new study, the corona hotspot Ischgl has an immense influence on the infection rate in Germany - this is now supported by a study that attaches great importance to the role of super spreaders.

Despite the successful fight against the corona virus, the virologist Christian Drosten also expresses fear.

Rubric list image: © dpa / VÌt äim · nek