Advertisement

Updated May 20th, 2021 at 06:46 IST

European Union to now ease travel restrictions for non-EU tourists, details here

The European Union took steps towards relaxing travel rules for tourists from outside the bloc. This happened after EU ambassadors agreed on various measures.

Reported by: Akanksha Arora
European Union
Image: AP/Ec.Europa | Image:self
Advertisement

The European Union, on Wednesday, May 19 took a step towards relaxing travel rules for tourists from outside the bloc. This happened after the EU ambassadors agreed on measures to allow in fully vaccinated visitors. The ambassadors also agreed to ease the criteria which is needed for nations to be considered COVID-19 safe and from which all tourists can travel, depending on their coronavirus and vaccination status. Under the existing criteria, the list includes only seven nations. 

Once the non-binding measures are approved, EU countries will keep the possibility to impose restrictive measures on tourists. This will include PCR tests or quarantines. The EU nations have been struggling throughout the pandemic to prepare for vital tourism industries with the hope to recover some income over the peak summer season. Greece, which is heavily reliant on tourism, has already lifted quarantine restrictions for countries like the US, Britain, Israel. 

All that you need to know 

This comes after the European Commission unveiled its recommendations to ease the present COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential travel from overseas. The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted saying it was “time to revive” the 27-nation-bloc’s tourism industry in order to “rekindle” the cross-border relations. As of now, the EU only allows non-essential travel from seven nations but the proposals by the authorities will also contain an “emergency brake” that will allow the EU member nations to limit the travel rapidly in the wake of new variants or other situations in non-EU countries.

The bloc is also introducing an ‘emergency brake’. In the statement, the Commission said that the ‘emergency brake’ mechanism “to be coordinated at EU level and which would limit the risk of such variants entering the EU. This will allow the Member States to act quickly and temporarily limit to a strict minimum all travel from affected countries for the time needed to put in place appropriate sanitary measures”.

Tourism in Europe hit

EU nations have been struggling throughout the pandemic to prop up their vital tourism industries and hope to recover some income over the peak summer season.

Greece, which is heavily reliant on tourism, has already lifted quarantine restrictions for the U.S., Britain, Israel, and other non-EU countries as negotiations between governments and EU lawmakers to introduce COVID-19 certificates aimed at facilitating travel across the region this summer continue. A deal is required by end of the month to ensure the system will be up and running by the end of June.

(Image Credits: AP/EC.Europa)

Advertisement

Published May 20th, 2021 at 06:46 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar
a few seconds ago
Baltimore bridge collapse
a few seconds ago
Secret weddings
11 minutes ago
Tata Steel
17 minutes ago
Alaya
21 minutes ago
Penn Badgley
28 minutes ago
Astrology
36 minutes ago
World's oldest mountains
38 minutes ago
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
39 minutes ago
Hanuma Vihari
40 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo