EU’s Travel Safe List to Promote Leisure and Business Tourism Across 14 Countries

Travel restrictions introduced around the world due to the Covid-19 pandemic have led to major drawbacks for both large and small scale businesses. Companies that dealt with foreign clientele have been the worst hit since leisure and business tourism has been on a complete halt for a long time. EU’s travel safe list, which has been released recently has been made keeping in mind the dual objective of boosting economy and ensure safety from covid-19.

The travel safe list by European Union has approved people travelling from 15 countries beyond its borders (excluding the US) to enter the bloc. It includes: Algeria, Canada, Japan, Rwanda, Australia, Georgia, Montenegro, Serbia, South Korea, Morocco, New Zealand, Uruguay, Tunisia and Thailand. Each country on the list has to adhere to the condition of reciprocity. New countries will be added or removed based on the region’s control over the pandemic. Reports claim that although approved, China is yet to give a confirmation of reciprocity.

EU’s travel safe list will improve the condition of the travel industry and revenues for tourist destinations. Since southern Europe is the most hit by the pandemic, the move will boost tourism there too.

The restrictions on European tourism are affecting the lives of people in Madrid too. Speaking about the situation of businesses, Flamengo artist Blanca el Rey said, “We live thanks to foreign tourism. People often don’t value the beauty around them, so we need people from outside who can look at us with virgin eyes.” Since they are not expecting any foreign tourists this summers, business will be tough for 2020.

As per the Chief Executive of the European Tourism Association — Tom Jenkins, “This is not a normal year. All we’re doing is looking at mitigation of losses.” Several businesses have been forced to take up loans to swim through the crisis, many have sunk due to lack of adequate finances. Having taken a €1.8bn loan from the German government, Europe’s largest tour operator — Tui is also struggling to survive.

Since EU’s travel safe list does not include the US, businesses that were dealing with Americans will continue to suffer. Paola Pellizzari, who owns a mask and jewelry shop on the Saint-Louis island in Paris says, “Americans were 50% of my clientele. We can’t substitute that clientele with another.” Consequently, keeping the business in even survival mode will be a challenge for such people.

Each country in the travel safe list is entitled to individually set restrictions on travellers coming from the 14 nations. After the release of the list, Canada has extended its mandatory quarantine order till August end. Italy has also kept quarantine restrictions in place for the nations that are not a part of the free-travel Schengen area.

Meanwhile, visitors from several European countries, except Britain, can now enter Malta. Since 30% of the island’s tourist arrivals are from Britain, this move will impact revenues of the aviation industry and the hospitality sector.

With the coming of EU’s travel safe list, several businesses will be able to cater to their foreign clientele and consider expanding business operations beyond their home country too.