EU Recommends New Curbs on US Tourists

The European Union has removed the United States from a safe list of nations for which travel restrictions should be lifted, which has hampered international tourist recovery.

From 30th August, non-essential travel to the EU from six countries, including Israel, will be subject to a temporary travel ban.

The decision to halt non-essential travel from the United States comes after a spike in Covid cases in the United States, with daily average hospital admissions exceeding 100,000 for the first time since last winter.

The EU Council stated, “This is without prejudice to member states’ ability to relax the interim prohibition on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated visitors.”

At the same time, it suggested that 21 other nations, including Canada, Qatar, and Singapore, have their travel restrictions lifted.

Although the EU eased travel restrictions for Americans in June, the US has had its non-essential travel ban in place since March 2020.

The recommendation to remove the United States from the EU’s safe travel list, on the other hand, sparked industry outcry.

“Last is a disheartening outcome considering the increase in inbound visits by vaccinated tourists that several EU nations enjoyed this summer,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy for the US Travel Association.

“It’s a setback despite the uptake in vaccinations – the tool that’s highly effective against the variants – which are on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Travel is a crucial component of the global economy and will be necessary for a full recovery from the economic devastation of the pandemic.

“We encourage the EU to remain open to vaccinated Americans, and likewise urge the United States to take immediate steps to begin welcoming vaccinated individuals and restoring our travel economy.”

“While this is a distressing development for businesses and people who rely on travel, the facts from the United States and Israel shows the value and benefit of vaccination,” Iata director general Willie Walsh said.

“Governments must be confident in the benefits of vaccinations, including the freedom to travel, as they rightfully push their citizens to get vaccinated.

“Those who have been completely vaccinated should, at the very least, be able to walk around freely.”