Where to go in the summer holidays? An answer thanks to the corona passport agreement

There is now an answer to a frequently asked question: where to go in the summer holidays? Because it has everything to do with the recently proposed corona passport. The European Parliament has agreed to it.

Agreement on the corona passport

• The southern European sun destinations Greece and Portugal, among others, pressed for a vaccination passport.
• In the final proposal the European Commission avoided that loaded term. Instead came the idea of a corona passport.

The European Parliament agreed to that idea yesterday. Which means countries can open to tourist traffic again.

Where to go in the summer holidays?

Which brings us to that familiar question in corona times: where to go in the summer holidays? Logically enough, given their lobbying, the southern European sun destinations beckon:

Greece in the summer of 2021

Greece, for instance. This classic sun destination has already set up a travel bubble with Israel. Initially the country was to open further as soon as tomorrow. The quarantine requirement has been lifted here, but several corona measures still apply until at least mid-May.

And travel abroad from the Netherlands is still advised against until the same date, mid-May. Either way, you are welcome in Greece if you are vaccinated or have tested negative. As things look now, you can head that way. All the more so during the summer holidays.

Portugal in the summer of 2021

And then Portugal. This popular sun destination absolutely wants to be open to foreign tourists in the summer holidays. In fact, like Greece, Portugal wants to ease things in mid-May. From that turning point the tourist sector will gradually reopen. Further details are missing for now.

The signs are favourable, at any rate. Thanks to the corona passport there is less chance of travel being linked, sometimes wrongly, to rising corona infections. Like Greece, Portugal is a strong champion of the passport.

Spain in the summer of 2021

Or what about Spain. There tourists are warmly welcome again from June. Tourists do not have to quarantine if they carry a corona passport. Spain, incidentally, seems the keenest on enforcing face masks.

De NOS highlights that requirement explicitly: in Spain face masks are currently compulsory indoors and outdoors. The news organisation also points to possible restrictions on the famous nightlife. Clubs, for instance, are still closed.

And what about Italy?

Italy has a quarantine requirement running until mid-May, among other things. Beyond that little is known. Given the economic stakes it stands to reason that Italy wants to welcome tourists this summer. But unlike the countries mentioned above, Italy has not yet named a ‘start date’.

Neighbouring countries

• Germany is a good deal less enthusiastic than countries like Greece, Portugal and Spain. It is not yet venturing an opening date for tourism.
• For Belgium the same applies, although that country is positive about the corona passport.

Abroad in the summer holidays

Where to go in the summer holidays? Greece, Portugal or Spain. Those countries are glad to receive foreign tourists again for their sun holidays.

No rights can be derived from the content of this article. Countries may change their intentions, policy and rules in the meantime. At the moment the whole world on code orange.