Safe corridors will be the solution to reactivate tourism
Slovakia, Czech Republic and Croatia. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Greece, Cyprus and Israel. Soon, travelers from each of these trios will be able to travel freely within their associated countries , thus saving part of the summer travel season for Europe and the least affected destinations in the Mediterranean.
The associations, called by some "travel bubbles" and "safe corridors", are popping up across the continent as coronavirus restrictions are lifted. **
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Local people seek leave not only their homes , but also their countries, all together, in search of a necessary change of scenery.
Regarding the travel bubbles suggested, The countries that have managed to limit the effects of the coronavirus -such as Israel, which registered just over 240 deaths in its population of around 9 million, or the Czech Republic, which has suffered less than 300 deaths in its population of more than 10 million- they would open their borders to other nations with few cases, which would allow residents to travel freely between them without the need for a 14-day quarantine.
In most of these safe corridors, tourists could travel from country to country by car, although some They would need to catch a plane.
The idea is brewing: The EU recently published a report which outlines the tourism sector reactivation strategies across the continent, and association of member states similar to each other was part of the plan.
"Restrictions, as far as travel is concerned, must be lifted first in areas with a comparable epidemiological situation and where sufficient capacities are available in terms of hospitals, testing, surveillance and contact tracing" says the report.
So what exactly would this all consist of? The greek officials they have been the most outspoken: thanks to these measures, they hope to begin to **recover from the economic crisis thanks to summer tourism. **
Fig Tree Bay beach, Protaras, Cyprus
The agreement with Israel and Cyprus, among other countries, it is not yet closed, because there are many details to resolve, such as "the medical clearances that travelers will need to have before setting foot in any of the three countries as well as whether hotels will offer buffet-style breakfasts and dinners," said Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis to Voice of America.
"The track and trace systems they will also have to be operational if there are an outbreak of infections in a tourist resort" he added.
On the other side of the world, Australia and New Zealand are working out the details of a travel bubble that would allow its residents to fly between both destinations. No official plan has yet been released, as government officials from both countries have said that its borders will not open in the near future, but it has been confirmed that opening up between neighbors is the first step.
"The most obvious scenario for that to start is that of Australia and New Zealand, but it is not something that will start next week" , He said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the beginning of May.
With a more concrete schedule, the Czech Republic plans to open its borders on June 8 to residents of countries that are considered safe (Austria, Slovakia and Croatia).
Details about what will be required of visitors -such as a negative test for the coronavirus or a shortened or even non-existent period of confinement- were not clear Reuters reported.
Israel will receive tourists from Greece and Cyprus
Currently, even The Czechs who return to their country from abroad they must show a negative test result or self-quarantine.
For travel specialist Leftheris Papageorgiou of Hellenic Adventures, the move towards creating these travel bubbles it is a small step towards the **return of tourism. **
"Know that tour operators will bring Israelis to Greece for one or two weeks at the end of July and August it's a start," says Papageorgiou. "But I don't think it's what the more popular islands need to have a good year," he notes.
For Papageorgiou, communication of the rules and safety measures around these travel bubbles is key for people to go out into the world again. Those who wish to travel "will soon feel in their own heads, in their own hearts, that it is safe enough for them to risk going on vacation," he says.
"But that will depend as much on how governments deal with the information they share , the level of clarity and the structure they create for visitors and the tourism sector" he continues.
His fellow travel specialist, Joe Yudin, agrees that both communication and set a positive and confident example, is the best way to go countries with stronger health systems and, therefore, with the most controlled health crisis.
Czech Republic plans to open its borders to Austria, Slovakia and Croatia on June 8
"Once the rest of Europe sees that there are people traveling to other countries, I think there will be a positive psychological effect and what more nations will begin to open their borders to others. Right now, people are scared doesn't know what's going on," says Yudin.
As to Papageorgiou, who lives in the United States, will not travel to Greece until next year -postponing their annual trip for safety reasons-, and neither will their clients, who have chosen **postponing their trips to 2021, instead of canceling them. **
"If the number of positive cases is kept under control, if hospitalizations are reduced and if the government and providers come to a clear policy for travelers and hotels, then good things will slowly and steadily take place," he concludes.
Article originally published in Condé Nast Traveler USA.
European governments begin to activate tourism this summer