Travel

Brits will be banned from holiday destinations across Europe because of fears over our coronavirus response


COUNTRIES in Europe are starting to open their borders to tourists once again as cases of coronavirus fall – but the UK isn’t expected to find themselves on the list just yet.

Resorts are relaxing their lockdown rules, with beaches and cafes starting to allow visitors, and new plans are being drawn to continue social distancing.

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 Brits re likely to be the last to return to holiday destinations, pictured here in Turkey
Brits re likely to be the last to return to holiday destinations, pictured here in TurkeyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

However, British tourists are likely to be the last to be allowed to travel, with governments claiming the UK was too slow to react to coronavirus, leading to soaring numbers of cases.

The country currently has more than 150,000 confirmed cases as the death toll exceeds 20,000.

Despite popular holiday destinations hoping to open to tourists, many may be allowing their closest neighbours in first.

Tenerife has suggested that international tourists, including those from the UK, won’t be allowed into the country until October, to allow Spain to recover.

The Balearic Islands have also expressed similar concerns, with a summer holiday off the cards.

 Regions in Spain may not welcome British tourists until after summer
Regions in Spain may not welcome British tourists until after summerCredit: EPA

Balearics Tourism minister Iago Negueruela said: “There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures and that also puts us in a different situation with respect to them.”

Some parts of Spain hope to welcome tourists soon, with Majorca wanting visitors by next May – however this will need to follow guidelines from the rest of the country.

Flights are also not expected to resume from the UK until mid-June at the earliest.

Similar restrictions have been suggested by Austria, who will allow tourists from countries with low coronavirus numbers, such as Germany.

The UK is unlikely to find themselves being welcomed back before the summer holidays.

 Brits may be last on the list to have a summer holiday in Europe this year
Brits may be last on the list to have a summer holiday in Europe this yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Cyprus is also encouraging tourists from Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands to book holidays according to the Financial Mirror, and not the UK.

This is despite Brit being one of the largest tourist groups for the country.

Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism Savvas Perdios explained: “The important thing is that travel agents have Cyprus in mind…there are positive signs from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Nordic countries, Greece, Israel and perhaps the Netherlands.”

Cases of coronavirus in the UK have hit 153,000, with more than 20,000 deaths.”

He added they “hope to know in a few weeks” when Brits and Russians will be able to return, as it has yet to be confirmed.

It isn’t just Europe – Turkey has also put the UK at the bottom of the list for when the country opens its borders to tourists.

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The country’s culture and tourism minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy explained that while flights could resume by the end of June, tourists from Asia will be allowed to enter first, followed by Russia and the Balkans, and only then will the UK be welcome.

Even the Czech Republic and Croatia could allow non-UK tourists into the country first, according to local media.

A new proposal by the Association of Czech Travel Agencies suggests a treaty with countries that have low cases of coronavirus to be able to enter the country without being subject to a 14-day quarantine, such as Croatia and Slovakia.

Experts have warned that summer holidays abroad may be off the cards this year, with domestic trips and staycations likely to be the way forward until 2021.

There is some good news, however, with Greece hoping to open to British tourists by July.

Greece’s minister of state Giorgos Gerapetritis told THEMA 104.6 radio station: “We are a country that will be open to all, not only because we are the best tourist destination, but because competing destinations are in great difficulty.”

However, international visitors will have to provide immunity certificates or health passports to be allowed into the country.

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