Americans will not be permitted to travel to the European Union (EU) when it reopens travel to international visitors on July 1, the European Council has announced.
“A growing number of Americans have visited Europe over the past twenty years. Many European capitals, including Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Madrid, are perennial top ten destinations for American travelers. While there may be genuine concerns from local officials regarding the spread of COVID-19, banning all Americans from travel to Europe is a short-sighted decision that could have unintended long term consequences,” says Zane Kerby, president and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). “Our travel advisors report extraordinary pent up demand for travel. The European travel market is vital to the business of travel advisors. With the No Sail Order still in place, this proposed travel ban threatens to push our members’ businesses off a cliff. Punishing American travelers is short-sighted and economically irresponsible.”
Travelers from 14 countries will be permitted entry to the EU, including Canada, South Korea and Australia, but not the United States.
As the EU prepares to reopen its external borders, a non-mandatory list of 14 countries — excluding the United States — whose travelers will be permitted to enter from July 1, has been agreed by representatives of 27 member states after prolonged negotiations, in an attempt to save the summer tourism season.
The European Council reports that the list will be reviewed and updated every two weeks.
As of July 1, the European Council will start lifting travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.
For more information, click here. For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.
