Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) wants to discuss with his colleagues from popular German holiday destinations on Monday (1:00 p.m.) how the travel restrictions due to the corona pandemic can be gradually relaxed. Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Malta, Slovenia, Cyprus and Bulgaria are invited to the video conference.
The goal of the meeting is a coordinated approach to opening the borders to tourists. In Germany, a worldwide travel warning for holidaymakers applies until June 14th. Maas will then gradually lift them, provided there is no setback in combating the pandemic – first for European countries. The basis for the discussions is the guidelines for tourism in crisis that were presented by the EU Commission a few days ago.
The Federal Government assumes that vacations will be possible in large parts of Europe. "The chances are good that we can spend our summer vacation not only in Germany, but also in other European countries," said the government's tourism representative, Thomas Bareiß, the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" (Monday). He was "convinced that the global travel warning will be history after June 14th."
Some countries are already preparing for it – others still have to overcome high hurdles. An overview.
Greece: Tourism should start in July – first test from Saturday
Athens wants to allow all movements within the country from May 18. Tourism should start again from July 1st. In the holiday resorts by the sea, the loungers and parasols by the pool or on the beach should be about three to five meters apart. There is great debate as to whether meals should be served buffet style or at the table. So that the virus does not spread, the beds in the rooms should not be made daily.
Tourism is extremely important for the country that had left its great economic crisis behind. Most recently, 33 million tourists came in the year. The industry anticipated sales of more than 22 billion euros in 2020. Now it should not be more than two billion euros. Around 65 percent of hoteliers fear that they will not open this summer.
And the country is already trying the real thing: Before an expected heat wave in the coming days, the Greek Corona crisis team allowed all 515 organized bathing establishments in the country to open from Saturday. However, strict requirements were imposed on bathers. For example, only 40 people per 1000 square meters should be allowed. The distance between the parasols must be at least four meters.
And there can be no more than two loungers under the umbrellas. The beach bars are also only allowed to sell packaged food and not serve alcohol, as the state television (ERT) reported on Thursday.
Austria is getting ready for tourists
The relief is great in the Alpine Republic. Many vacationers had already booked their summer stay in the land of mountains and lakes before the Corona crisis. There are many indications that they can now travel there. The Germans are by far the most important group of guests. You encounter a country with currently extremely low corona numbers.
Important tourist facilities such as museums, mountain railways and amusement parks are expected to reopen in the next few weeks. As of Friday, this also includes Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, which was once inhabited by Empress Sisi. However, visitors must wear mouth-nose protection. The culture scene still hangs in the air. Theaters, concerts and festivals are not yet sure whether, when and under what conditions they can play in front of an audience again.
Italy: South Tyrol is advancing
Italy plans to reopen its airports on June 3. Then domestic and international travel should be allowed again, which is why transport restrictions could be lifted, Minister of Transport Paola De Micheli said in Rome on Wednesday, according to Italian news agencies. Italy had announced that it would be possible for EU citizens to enter the country again on June 3 and that there would be no general quarantine for them. There have been more train connections within Italy since this week.
What this message means for tourist trips to Italy is not yet clear: Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has given his own countrymen hope for a summer vacation on the beach. But whether and when tourists from abroad can go back to Italy is still in the stars. In any case, South Tyrol has already rushed ahead and will open hotels again at the end of May – and court German tourists.
In the meantime, the country gets lost in sometimes absurd discussions about distance rules on the beach, in the sea and for children digging in the sand. Lido operators are up in arms against suggestions that rows of parasols must be up to five meters apart or that sun beds should be disinfected after every change. Access should only be given with bookings in advance. At the moment, however, this is still a long way off: even the Italians are not yet allowed to travel from one region to another.
Spain: Flights to Mallorca again from June
Any plans for Spain in summer 2020 are still shaky for international holiday guests. So far the limits have been closed. Even the Spaniards are still prohibited from traveling to other regions of their country. In addition, from May 15th, foreign visitors to Spain must be quarantined for two weeks. The measure should apply until the corona alarm condition ends.
However, there are gradual easing, even if it is not yet clear what that means for tourism. At least in parts of the country, the hotels were allowed to reopen under strict conditions. "The impact of Covid-19 on tourism is simply brutal," wrote the newspaper "El Periódico". But at least: From June, Lufthansa and its subsidiary Eurowings want to send vacationer jets back to the Balearic island of Mallorca, which is less affected by the virus.
France: summer vacation only for French?
For two months, the French were only allowed to see their often beautiful beaches from a distance. With the loosening of the exit restrictions, that changes now. Regional authorities decide which beaches on the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the North Sea reopen. Two beaches for swimming and fishing have already opened in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France; others in the north and south of the country are to follow. There is still a travel ban for the Mediterranean island of Corsica – no tourists are welcome there for the time being.
No opening date has been set for hotels, restaurants and cafés. It will only be decided at the end of May. Even with sights such as the Eiffel Tower, it is unclear when tourists can visit it again. Large museums like the Louvre in Paris are unlikely to open their doors until September. Smaller museums can again receive visitors.
The Parisian newspaper "Le Parisien", however, commented romantically on the summer vacation: "Summer 2020 will certainly not resemble the summers of recent years. It will smell like mass tourism and charter flights after the 1970s. With a good Michelin card in the glove compartment the nearest sea or the surrounding mountains become a paradise holiday destination. (…) Tourism in the post-growth economy in a country that the whole world envies us for and that at least for a summer (…) belongs to us becomes."
Turkey: Holidaymakers are expected to come in June
Turkey is gradually loosening the corona measures and preparing for an opening to tourism. In the meantime, only travel restrictions apply to 15 instead of 31 cities and provinces as before. The country plans to begin domestic travel at the end of May, and hopes to attract international holidaymakers in June.
Strict corona requirements should apply to hotels and restaurants. Distance and hygiene rules must be observed, for example, and the staff should receive pandemic training. Turkey has developed a certification program for this. After opening for international flights, corona tests are to be carried out at the border crossings, for example at Antalya Airport. The semi-state airline Turkish Airlines recently extended its flight stop until May 28th.
Croatia wants to receive vacationers as quickly as possible
The country, heavily dependent on tourism, on the Adriatic Sea with its long, bay-rich coast and the many islands forcefully urges an opening of the European borders. Relaxed entry requirements have been in effect since May 9. According to this, foreigners with three reasons can cross the border without a corona test and without quarantine requirements: if they own a property or a boat in Croatia, if they travel to a funeral or if they have an invitation from a company and they arrive at their entry there is economic interest.
An informal directive from the Ministry of the Interior states that the last provision also applies to vacationers who have booked accommodation in Croatia. The authorities are also working on new rules to prevent large crowds of people on the beaches.
Netherlands: Vacation soon possible again
The Holland vacation is possible again. Bungalow parks are already gradually opening their gates and apartments are being rented out again. From July 1st, all campsites and holiday parks should be fully reopened. So far, this was only limited. For example, showers and toilets on campsites had to remain closed. The sanitary facilities will also reopen on July 1st on beaches and in nature parks.
Museums can again receive visitors from June 1st – provided they register online beforehand. Restaurants, cafes, beach pavilions and pubs can each serve a maximum of 30 guests. From July up to 100 guests are allowed.
Poland: border controls until June 12th
The country will hold on to border controls with other EU countries until June 12. Foreigners are not allowed in. So far there are exceptions for people with permanent residence permits, for truck drivers and diplomats. Hotels and shopping centers have reopened on May 4th.
In a further step to end the lockdown, restaurants and cafes may reopen from next Monday (May 18th). However, there must be a minimum distance of two meters between the tables. Cooks and cellars are also obliged to wear mouth-nose protection. Also starting next Monday, hairdressing salons and beauty salons are allowed to open.
Egypt: So far, hotels can only be opened to locals
It is also unclear when normality will return to popular beach resorts such as Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. Hotels are now allowed to reopen for local vacationers with 25 percent occupancy and from June 1st with 50 percent occupancy. Among other things, hotels have to provide disinfectants at the entrance and disinfect guests' luggage on arrival and departure.
When the borders open again, airports should also ensure that travelers can keep a minimum distance from each other. Experts estimate that the Egyptian tourism industry is losing $ 1 billion a month from the pandemic.
Border controls: first easing
The first good news for holidaymakers is already there: the checks at the German border are to be gradually relaxed from this Saturday (May 16). Citizens should continue to do without tourist trips abroad in the coming weeks. As the Federal Ministry of the Interior announced on Wednesday, the controls will end at the Luxembourg border on the night of next Saturday.
At the German-Danish border Germany is also ready to end controls "as soon as the Danish government has carried out ongoing consultations with its neighboring countries". To the In contrast, they are to border France, Austria and Switzerland by June 15th to be continued. The German-Austrian border should open again from June 15th. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had agreed on this, said Austrian Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger.
Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU) emphasized that he had agreed with the neighboring countries that he had decided to extend the controls at the borders with France, Austria and Switzerland. "We combine this with the clear objective that we then want to have free travel again from mid-June"said Seehofer. However, this assumes that there is no new dynamic in the corona infection process," he added.
A worldwide travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office applies anyway until June 14th. This means that Germans should not go on holiday trips abroad. This also applies to other European countries.
Worldwide travel warnings should gradually be lifted
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wants to gradually lift the worldwide travel warning for tourists due to the Corona pandemic, which will run until June 14, and begin with European countries. However, he did not specify a time for this on Wednesday. "It will certainly be possible for Europe to lift the travel warning earlier than for other travel destinations – provided that the current positive trend in many countries continues," said Maas.
The Foreign Minister indicated that the travel warning may not be lifted simultaneously for the entire European Schengen area – where there are normally no border controls. "The goal must be to coordinate the way we do things in Europe as best we can, even if the situation differs from country to country. We don't all have to go at the same pace, but we also don't have to race – and so that we are each other do not stand on your feet, "said the SPD politician. The Schengen area includes 26 European countries.
There are currently warnings against unnecessary tourist trips abroad – until June 14th. The Foreign Office writes. Reason: There are still strong, drastic restrictions in international air and travel traffic, worldwide entry restrictions, quarantine measures and restrictions on public life in many countries.
This affects Pentecost holidays in individual federal states, but not yet the summer school holidays, which only start on June 22.
Meuse and Tui for summer vacation
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas does not believe that we can expect a normal summer vacation without restrictions. "There won't be a normal vacation season with full beach bars and full mountain huts this summer," he said in a video conference with colleagues from Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. However, it does not rule out that the borders will open again in summer and that vacation with restrictions may be possible.
But: Tui boss Friedrich Joussen wants to offer vacation trips to the Mediterranean again as soon as possible. "We have drawn up a health check for all holiday destinations and will only offer holidays where it is safe. Mallorca will be in the first place. The hotels there have carried out a test run, can start immediately and accept guests, ”he said of“ Bild am Sonntag ”. Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria, Austria and Denmark are also well prepared for summer tourism. However: "First of all, Germany must open the borders," said Joussen.
Also read: Summer vacation 2020: Where it could be possible – how the countries are preparing