COUNTRIES in Europe are starting to open their borders to tourists once again as cases of coronavirus start to 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, as new plans are being drawn to continue social distancing.
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According to Euro News Weekly, EU tourism ministers are to hold a video conference later today to discuss a range of new rules for tourists travelling around Europe.
However, the UK will not be included in this, having left the EU in January.
Brits could also find themselves being left at the bottom of the pile when it comes to accessing countries in the EU.
Beaches in the Costa del Sol Spain’s are relaxing their rules, after the prime minister allowed children to go outside for the first time in weeks, while Greece is looking into how to open resorts while still allowing social distancing.
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.
Harry Theoharis, Greece’s tourism minister explained to the Guardian: “If we are to think of the possibility of travelling this year it has to be under specific new rules.”
This means changing elements including buffets, pools and tour busses, which see high footfall from tourists.
Tenerife has also suggested that international tourists, including those from the UK, won’t be allowed into the country until October.
Similar restrictions have been suggested by Austria, who will allow tourists from countries with low coronavirus numbers, such as Germany. Cyprus are also encouraging tourists to book holidays from Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands, according to the Financial Mirror, and not the UK.
Cases of coronavirus in the UK have hit 153,000, with more than 20,000 deaths.
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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.
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.
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.
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