Find here the TOP 100 list of COVID-Free tourism destinations to save 2020 Summer Holidays. In December 2019, the coronavirus was seemingly confined to China. But, a few weeks later, the virus, which causes the illness known as COVID-19, became a global pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak is a serious threat to public health. Lockdowns and other coordinated restrictive measures are necessary to save lives. However, these measures may also severely slow down our economies and can delay the deliveries of critical goods and services.
Travelling to COVID-Free tourism destinations
The first step to make this possible is that the domestic epidemiological situation allows relaxation of domestic free movement restrictions. Travelling abroad will depend on the evolution of the public health situation in Member States. While a generalised lifting of restrictions would be desirable if the health situation were sufficiently positive across the Union, the Commission anticipates that a staged and coordinated approach is likely to be necessary.
This would start by lifting restrictions and controls between regions and Member States with sufficiently similar epidemiological situations. The approach must also be flexible, including the possibility to reintroduce certain measures if the health situation requires.
TOP 100 COVID-Free travel destinations
The principle of non-discrimination must be respected. But which are the COVID-free countries arounf the world? Here are the top 100 countries by COVID-19 safety, according to the Deep Knowledge Group:
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Israel
- Singapore
- Japan
- Austria
- China
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- United Arab Emirates
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Norway
- Denmark
- Taiwan
- Saudi Arabia
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Vietnam
- Kuwait
- Iceland
- Bahrain
- Finland
- Luxembourg
- Qatar
- Liechtenstein
- Poland
- Lithuania
- Malaysia
- Latvia
- Slovenia
- Oman
- Greece
- Estonia
- Croatia
- Turkey
- Ireland
- Georgia
- Cyprus
- Chile
- Montenegro
- Czech Republic
- Malta
- Spain
- Portugal
- Thailand
- Bulgaria
- Greenland
- Mexico
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
- Italy
- Serbia
- Philippines
- India
- Romania
- USA
- Slovak Republic
- France
- Russia
- Argentina
- Belarus
- Monaco
- Sweden
- Ukraine
- Gibraltar
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- San Marino
- Kazakhstan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Iran
- Ecuador
- Azerbaijan
- Mongolia
- Lebanon
- Belgium
- Andorra
- Cayman Islands
- Armenia
- Moldova
- Myanmar
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
- Egypt
- Tunisia
- Albania
- Jordan
- Panama
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Honduras
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Indonesia
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Bahamas
EU “blacklist” of airports to save Safe Summer holidays
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published a list of airports located in affected areas with high risk of transmission of the CoViD-19 infection. This “blacklist” of airports has 35 countries, cities and airports where the coronavirus pandemic remains out of control. EASA determined this blacklist of airports to support aircraft and aerodrome operators to put in place an extra layer of protection for the passengers and crew members.
Find here the 34 high-risk transmission countries
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has launched a programme to monitor the implementation of its COVID-19 operational guidelines in real-life situations. The Agency is inviting European airports and airlines with their national authorities to apply the new standards in practice and report back on their experience, with the objective of fine-tuning the guidelines and developing best practices.
Airlines follow new Health protocol of measures – EASA Regulations
The guidelines, developed by EASA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the basis of scientific evidence and expert opinion, were published last week. The aim is to allow air travel to restart in safe conditions from both an operational and public health point of view. Member states and industry stakeholders provided extensive input through consultation.
Best practices for Air travel and Airports operation
RESTORING COVID-FREE SAFE TRANSPORT
The Commission package on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond is composed of three guidelines and a recommendation to help EU countries gradually lift travel restrictions, allow businesses to reopen and ensure that people in Europe can benefit from a safe and relaxing summer after months of confinement while respecting necessary health precautions.
The package includes:
- A chapeau communication on tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond;
- A common approach to lifting restrictions of free movement at EU internal borders in a gradual and coordinated way, mirroring the progressive lifting of domestic restrictions;
- A common framework to support the gradual re-establishment of transport whilst ensuring the safety of passengers and personnel;
- A recommendation to make travel vouchers an attractive alternative to cash reimbursement;
- Common criteria and principles for gradually and safely restoring tourism activities, in particular for health protocols for hospitality (hotels, etc.).
European Commission presented guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions, with all the necessary safety and precautionary means in place.
June 15 will be the re-Open Borders Day of Schengen Area
Safely restoring freedom of movement and lifting internal border controls
If a generalised lifting of restrictions is not justified by the health situation, the Commission proposes a phased and coordinated approach that starts by lifting restrictions between areas or Member States with sufficiently similar epidemiological situations. The approach must also be flexible, including the possibility to reintroduce certain measures if the epidemiological situation requires. Member States should act on the basis of the following criteria: epidemiological situation, ability to apply containment measures throughout the journey, and economic and social considerations.
Restoring transport COVID-Free services across the EU
The guidelines represent general principles for the safe and gradual restoration of passenger transportation by air, rail, road and waterways. They also contain practical recommendations on, for example, limiting contacts between passengers and transport workers, and the passengers themselves, and on the use of personal protective equipment while travelling. Dedicated recommendations are given for each mode of transport.
EU open borders for outside travellers and tourists by July 1st
Safely resuming COVID-Free tourism services
The Commission set out a common framework which provides criteria for a safe and gradual restoration of tourism activities and the development of health protocols for hotels and other forms of accommodation, to protect the health of both guests and employees. These criteria include epidemiological evidence; sufficient health system capacity being in place for local people and tourists; robust surveillance and monitoring, testing capacity and contact tracing.
Ensuring cross-border interoperability of tracing apps
On 13 May, the EU Member States, supported by the Commission, agreed on a protocol to ensure cross-border interoperability of voluntary contact tracing apps, so that citizens can be warned of a potential infection with coronavirus when they travel in the EU.
