Optimism about the Canary Islands reopening is short-lived: ‘Do not travel’
Travelling abroad, and booking trips abroad, is advised against until mid-January unless strictly necessary. The news comes exactly a week after the Canary Islands reopened.
Prime minister Mark Rutte has just announced the measure at the press conference about corona. The new travel advice comes from the government: “Do not travel.”
It is another blow for the travel industry.
Both the Canary Islands (the reopening) and the Greek islands had only just turned ‘yellow’ again. They still are, but the government is stepping in between.
The colour codes and travel advisories explained
Normally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicates the travel advisories. It uses four colour codes: green, yellow, orange and red.
- Almost every country in the world is currently ‘orange’ ( essential travel only).
- Some countries are ‘yellow’ (there are risks, but travel is possible) or ‘red’ (all travel advised against).
- Finally, ‘green’, no particular risks, no longer appears anywhere.
Contradictory travel advice
In theory you can responsibly travel to the remaining yellow countries. But the government has now issued a general, negative travel advisory. That advisory may overrule colour code ‘yellow’.
That remains to be seen, as the official travel advisories still come from the ministry.
- In short, you have a general negative travel advisory as an urgent call from the government. And an official advisory from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A discouraging effect
The government's call will doubtless have a discouraging effect on would-be holidaymakers. The press conference about the coronavirus was watched by more than 6.5 million people, according to NU.nl.
The Caribbean parts: Curaçao stands out
Strikingly, the call does not apply to the sun destination of Curaçao, for instance. “Parts of the Caribbean Netherlands are regarded as domestic”, the Dutch government says.
Curaçao also has code ‘yellow’ at the ministry. Which means Curaçao can in theory be visited with both travel advisories in mind. The only destination in the world.
Although the government warns: “Limit your journeys, stay at home as much as possible.”
© dionvacation® with thanks to Vida Daurada
Magical ice between the mountains. Oases that are a feast for the eyes under the sun. Team dionvacation is made up of recreational skaters and sun lovers, people who savour life. We share that zest for life from the Weissensee all the way to the Catalan coast. The holiday home ‘Vida Daurada’ (the golden life) suits that lifestyle, between mountains and sea. All articles are written by our own travel editors. Vida Daurada sponsors the Sun destination section.
