Coronavirus Update: European Countries Plan To Reopen For Summer Vacations

Summer looms as European nations and other countries across the world begin to ease lockdown measures. But with the novel coronavirus still underway with no vaccine or treatment yet, Europe is advancing with caution as the countries move toward reopening.

The reopening of these countries is widely anticipated by people across the world, eager to enjoy a slice of European sunshine after months in quarantine. Across the continent, various nations that are still under strict quarantine measures or lockdowns are trying to figure out how they can once again welcome tourists.

European Commission, European Union's (EU) executive arm, revealed May 13 a phased plan for reopening internal borders, airports, and hotels to allow some amount of leisure travel to resume in time for summer, per Forbes. Earlier reports mentioned the EU executives said the main focus is reinventing tourism in such a way that it is safe from a health perspective, and sustainable from an environmental perspective.

EU's internal market commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement, "We all need a break, especially after this confinement. We want to enjoy the summer holidays, we would like to see our families and friends even if they live in another region, in another country," CNN Travel reported.

According to a Newsweek report, Europe represents about 50% of the global tourism market in terms of arrival in a typical year. As a result, travel bans and flight restrictions have had a serious impact on the continent's tourism sector. Normally crowded cities such as Venice, Rome, Paris, and Barcelona have stood empty.

The EU currently has recommendations in place to all its members that they restrict non-essential travels as well as visitors from outside, CNN Travel reported. But as the infection rates are dropping in some countries, the situation may change.

The countries set to reopen for international summer travel are France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Nordic region, and the Baltic states.

The EU's plans also set out a roadmap for developing health and safety protocols in hotels, beaches, campsites, cafes, and restaurants to protect both guests and employees, such as allowing people to book time slots at the gym and swimming pool in advance.

EU member states have also agreed to protocols to ensure tracing apps work across borders so that citizens can be warned of the potential risk of coronavirus infections while traveling within the vicinity.

Margrethe Vestager, European Commission's vice president, said it is not going to be a normal summer for anyone. "But when we all work together and we all do our part in the ways the Commission is setting out today, then we don't have to face a summer stuck at home or a completely lost summer for the European tourism industry," she added, according to CNN Travel.