Travel news reveals that European Union ambassadors made a big announcement today that will affect millions of travelers eager to visit Europe this summer.
On Wednesday they approved re-opening non-essential travel for fully vaccinated visitors.
The Associated Press reported that EU officials approved the ruling that fully vaccinated tourists from outside the bloc should be allowed to travel within its borders and restrictions on which countries are considered safe would be relaxed.
U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow said, “The European Union’s risk-based, science-driven plan to reopen international travel will hopefully spur the U.S. to heed the many calls for a plan and timetable to safely reopen our borders.”
European Union Approves Reopening Tourism
Dow continued, “The right conditions are in place: vaccinations are increasing, infections are decreasing, all inbound visitors get tested or have to prove they’ve recovered, and it’s possible to determine vaccine status.”
EU Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told The AP that the European Council, “will now recommend that member states ease some of the current restrictions,” for fully vaccinated travelers.
Wigand was not able to give a date for the reopening since the measure still needs to gain full approval. However, the deal must be finalized soon if it is to be in place in time to accommodate the busy summer travel season.
Wigand said, “The council should also soon expand the list of non-EU countries with a good epidemiological situation from where travel is permitted.”
European Union Has Good News for Vaccinated Travelers
In May the European Commission ruled that entry should be granted to all those fully vaccinated with EU-authorized shots. The shots approved are AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. There is a possibility that World Health Organization-approved vaccines such as China’s Sinopharm could also be accepted.
At the same time, the ambassadors revealed a safeguard in place, a so-called “emergency brake” mechanism that would allow them to shut down any potential spread of COVID-19 variants.
Scott’s Cheap Flights founder Scott Keyes said, “Today’s news is thrilling. We’ve heard from thousands of members over the past few months who were anxiously awaiting word on whether they’d be able to take that bucket list trip to Europe this summer.”
Keyes added, “Now that we know Americans will be welcomed back soon, American travelers will be able to shed those anxieties and instead focus their energy on a far more exciting activity: trip planning.”
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