Last year, the French were 9 million to cross the borders to go and sunbathe abroad in July and August. But this year, the summer holidays have an air of never seen before. While the coronavirus epidemic has brutally reshuffled the cards of world tourism, a question arises: will we be able to travel internationally this summer?
As far as travel outside the Schengen area is concerned, the outlook is still very uncertain for the time being. The issue of external borders should be decided collectively by the European Union around June 15, said Edouard Philippe during his speech on Friday, May 29. "It does not make sense to do it European country by European country, we must do it collectively and apply this rule collectively," insisted the Prime Minister. For its part, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is considering the establishment of air corridors between countries at low risk of contagion from Covid-19.
In the Old Continent, on the other hand, and especially in the countries around the Mediterranean which are very dependent on tourism, announcements have accelerated since mid-May. Croatia, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal, destinations cherished by the French for their holidays, are in the starting blocks to welcome summer visitors. And are already organizing to allow secure access to beaches and coastlines, strong arguments to make travelers want to join them as soon as possible. Remember, however, that until June 15, the French borders are not closed but "are still subject to traffic restrictions implemented as part of coordinated border controls", as recalled by the website of the Ministry of Business foreign. Any exit from the territory before this date is therefore not recommended.
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Croatia, Greece, Italy, Portugal: tourists welcome from June
With a contained coronavirus crisis, Croatia reaches out to Europeans who are welcome upon presentation of a document attesting to their accommodation in the country. The first post-Covid tourists have already arrived in the country: some 20,000 holidaymakers are currently in Croatia, mainly staying with locals or in one of the 133 hotels and 65 campsites reopened. Only downside: the number of flights from abroad is currently reduced, but a resumption of air traffic is expected by the end of June or the beginning of July. At the moment, Zagreb can only be reached by direct flight from Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Amsterdam or Cologne.
Read also: Croatia reaches out to European tourists for July and August
The Greece , the islands attract every summer hundreds of thousands of French, was the first European country to bet on an open tourist season to foreigners. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has set June 15 as the start of the new tourist season with, as a first step, the reopening on Monday June 1 of hotels open year-round, to revive a vital sector for the economy. On this date, international flights will only be authorized to Athens International Airport. All visitors will be subjected to a test upon arrival and will be required to stay overnight in a designated hotel pending their outcome.
From June 15, the real date of the resumption of tourism, and until June 30, international flights will be authorized to the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki. Passengers will not be subject to strict quarantine measures, with the exception of those arriving from the regions most affected by Covid-19. In France, the Île-de-France is particularly concerned. Tourists from other regions will only be subjected to random tests. The other regional airports and those of the Greek islands will not be operational until July 1.
Finally, arrivals by sea will also be authorized from July 1, visitors may be subjected to a random sampling test on arrival.
Read also: Greece to allow more flights from the EU from June 15
In Rome, the Colosseum timidly reopened to visitors, under drastic hygienic conditions, on June 1, after two months of closure. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP
The Italy , particularly saddened by the epidemic Covid-19, took everyone by surprise by announcing mid-May to reopen its borders to tourists from the European Union from June 3 All airports in the country will be able to reopen on this date. The mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors to the peninsula has also been lifted. These measures could nevertheless evolve according to a possible “epidemiological risk”, specifies a government press release.
The ancient city of Pompeii, the second most visited site in the country closed for two months, reopened Tuesday with reinforced hygiene measures. In Rome, St. Peter's Basilica is once again open to the public, as is the Borghese Gallery, the Capitoline Museums and, most recently, the Colosseum, which is subject to drastic hygiene rules.
Read also: Italy to reopen its borders to EU tourists from June 3
In Portugal , which reopened its restaurants, cafes and terraces under conditions on May 18, "tourists are welcome" , as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, proclaimed at the end of May. Travelers, whether arriving by plane or by road, will not be subject to quarantine in the country, with the exception of those wishing to travel to the Azores or Madeira. Good news for the 600,000 Portuguese living in France, who join the country every summer, often by road.
If it is, in theory, already possible to go to Portugal, a major barrier still stands on the road of vacationers: Spain, whose borders are closed until July 1. To date, only French people with a residence in Portugal can join the country and cross Spain. In addition, movement restrictions are in effect until June 15 at the Portuguese-Spanish border. As a result, only nine crossing points are open to traffic to enter Portugal.
In terms of air traffic, it is already possible to reach Portugal by plane. Air France provides a daily round trip between Paris and Lisbon and TAP, the Portuguese national airline, two flights a week between the two capitals. The temperature of tourists will be checked via thermal cameras installed in airports.
The website of the French Embassy in Portugal regularly updates the information necessary to prepare for your trip and makes available all the certificates to download.
Read also: By car or plane, the travel conditions to Portugal this summer are clarified
Spain: resumption of tourism in early July
First sunbathing in Calvia, on the island of Mallorca, on May 30. Almost all of the country's beaches reopened on June 1. JAIME REINA / AFP
The Spain , destination popular with tourists hexagonal cautiously advanced his pawns has until May 23 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has finally announced the opening of the borders for the month of July, hoping to save part of the summer season. "From July, the entry of foreign tourists into Spain will resume in safe conditions ," he said. The government has also announced that the quarantine imposed on foreigners will be lifted on July 1. In the meantime, almost all of the country's beaches reopened on June 1. At the beginning of the week, the Minister of Transport, Jose Luis Abalos, raised the possibility of accepting the arrival of foreign tourists, including the French, in the Canary and Balearic Islands ahead of the reopening to international tourism. Without giving further details.
Read also: In Spain, foreign tourists will be able to return from July
Other southern European countries are hoping to do well, such as Montenegro. The country considers itself cured of the coronavirus, having had no new contamination since May 5. He even made it his slogan: "first destination in Europe without corona".
For its part, the French government remains cautious. He recommends that those who are planning a trip to Europe this summer to see how the coronavirus pandemic is evolving before making a reservation. The French Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, puts the question under wraps until June 15. "This is the date at which, at European level, we will be able to give a complete vision of what will be implemented in the member states", he timed May 20.
