Mr. Gabriel Stulman has just reopened his restaurant called The Jones in New York (USA) after a year of closure. Although the restaurant will have to practice social distancing, it’s much better than closing anyway. “ I am very happy and optimistic ,” Mr. Stulman told the Wall Street Journal. According to statistics from the online table booking platform OpenTable, the number of table reservations at restaurants across the US has reached 100% compared to 2019. Cultural activities also began to return to serve the entertainment needs of the people. The San Francisco Orchestra opened its first live concert this year, and the Kansas City Orchestra plans to perform again later this month. In Europe, people are equally excited when schools, shops and beaches reopen. Spaniards poured into the streets dancing and chanting “freedom” as the travel ban was lifted. Ireland lifted the ban on domestic travel and gradually allowed non-essential services to reopen. Germans congratulate each other after the country announced the third wave of infections was under control. The European Union has officially approved the reopening of borders to vaccinated travelers or visitors from safe countries, providing a glimmer of hope for Europeans for a dream summer vacation outside. Mediterranean beach after a year “hidden” in the house. Tourism, aviation recover In the long queue at Gatwick Airport (London, England), husband and wife Keith and Mr. Janice Tomsett can’t wait to fly to the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira for their summer vacation. “ After 15 months of being locked in, today’s trip was amazing! ” said Mr. Tomsett. Tower Bridge in London (UK) will be bustling again when British people’s lives return to normal (photo: Duc Minh) Amanda Brown is also eagerly waiting to fly from London to Faro (Portugal) to meet her boyfriend. The two have been apart for 8 months and she had to cancel her flight 6 times because of the epidemic situation. I call this trip “ can’t wait i”. “ I am very excited. I didn’t sleep last night. Great to see everything back to normal ” shared Amanda. The above story was recorded by The Sun at Gatwich airport when the UK’s summer tourist opening policy took effect. British people can go to tourist destinations on the safe list without having to be quarantined when returning. This opening has contributed to helping UK airports become more crowded in recent days. In Greece, tourists started returning to the country after the border was opened. “ People are very optimistic, the number of bookings has increased a lot in the past two weeks. The tourist season will return soon “, Dimitris Lianos, mayor of the island of Naxos (Greece) told AP. An attraction in the city of Barcelona (Spain) is expected to welcome back many tourists after the travel ban is lifted (photo: Duc Minh) Airports across the US have also been crowded again after the tourism industry recovered from March 2021. Southwest Airlines data shows that bookings for summer vacations are quite high. If the situation continues to be positive, in this June, the airline may reach the milestone of the number of flights performed in the same period in 2019 – when there was no epidemic. With American Airlines, by the end of April 2021, the number of daily bookings has returned to the level of 2019, even though international flight tickets are not included. Vasu Raja, Chief Revenue Officer of American Airlines, said: “ During peak holidays or holidays, the demand for flights is much greater than the supply “. The fact that people in many countries are optimistic about returning to normal life shows that the COVID-19 epidemic has been well controlled. In the near future, depending on the speed of vaccination of countries, COVID-19 will be repelled and all activities of the world economy will recover and develop strongly.

The famous Nissi beach of Cyprus, taken on May 21, 2021. Travelers are required to take a Covid-19 test prior to departure. (Source: AP) Countries, especially those heavily dependent on tourism, are racing to revive amid the still raging Covid-19 pandemic. While some countries confidently promote border opening, some countries, including the rate of Covid-19 vaccination among the population is quite high, still struggling to “open” or “closed” the border. gender. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated the tourism industry lost nearly $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs last year. Airlines alone lost $126 billion in 2020 and are likely to lose another $48 billion this year. “Headache” because each place has a style The rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine is well underway in many parts of the world, giving confidence to governments and excitement to those who love to travel. However, those who are planning travel trips sometimes feel like they are lost in the matrix of regulations because each place is different and even rapidly changing. For example, Cyprus imposes restrictions on countries considered to be at higher risk, requiring incoming passengers to take a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure and one more test. when entering this country. Travelers must also self-isolate until test results are released. Constantinos Victoras, general manager of NissiBlu hotel located near the famous white sand beach of Ayia Napa, said that although the infection rate in Cyprus has decreased significantly in the past two weeks, it is not until the end of June that everything is new. becomes more obvious. At that time, tour operators and airlines were just starting to plan and organize flights. “Things are still very vague,” says Victoras. Swedish tourists Agatha and Simon Godurkiewicz said they chose to vacation in Cyprus because they were tired of the pandemic. Agatha Godurkiewicz said: “We are fed up with life during the pandemic. When the epidemic first appeared, we panicked, but now we are learning to live together.” Confident Europe The economies of the Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Spain and Turkey, are heavily dependent on tourism. Tourists from these countries began to breathe a sigh of relief when last week the European Union (EU) agreed to allow travelers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or come from other countries. countries are considered safe to enter. The Covid-19 digital certification will help Europeans who meet the above criteria travel more conveniently at the start of the tourist season without having to be isolated or tested when traveling to another country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said last week that Spain would begin allowing visitors from Britain, Japan, the United States and some other countries to enter if they have been vaccinated. Foreign tourists have begun to appear in Greece after authorities allowed people from the European Union and 21 other countries with vaccination and test certificates to enter. On the Greek island of Naxos, business owners have begun pulling furniture out of storage, cleaning floors and reopening once crowded seaside pubs. Naxos Mayor Dimitris Lianos said: “People here are very optimistic and there are a lot of bookings in the last two weeks. From now until the end of the year, the outlook will be bright. I’m sure of that.” Croatia has also reopened. The country is one of the few places in Europe that Americans can easily visit. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have announced the opening of direct flights from New York to Dubrovnik this summer. Cautious Asia The Covid-19 epidemic is breaking out again throughout parts of Asia, making some countries and territories more reticent when it comes to strategies to open up the tourism industry. After a new outbreak, Hong Kong and Singapore abandoned injections for travelers entering without quarantine. Hong Kong even extended the mandatory quarantine period for many unvaccinated travelers. Meanwhile, China has set up additional checkpoints at tollgates, airports and train stations in Liaoning province, where new cases arose this month. Travelers must present proof of a negative test result for the Sars-cov-2 virus. Thailand, which closed its borders and strictly controlled the outbreak last year, allowed some foreign visitors to enter under strict control in the fall. But the worst outbreak in late March caused the country to completely change its policy. Bangkok has closed entertainment venues and parks, encouraged people to work from home and banned outdoor dining. Streets in the capital and many resorts of Thailand are almost empty of people. Travel-related job losses are on the rise. Middle East and Africa eagerly When the outbreak emerged last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed its borders and airports. The capital, Abu Dhabi, applies strict measures, including mandatory isolation, even for fully vaccinated residents returning from some epidemic-hit countries. But the UAE’s largest city, Dubai, has been open to tourists since July last year. In addition to meeting the requirement for a negative Covid-19 test, visitors are subject to a number of other restrictions that are not too strict. Dubai – home to the world’s busiest airport, a hub for international travelers – is attracting visitors from Europe with its wide-open beaches, bars, hotel pools, restaurants, cinemas. movies, amusement parks and spas. Social distancing and wearing of masks are mandatory. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Gulf, does not allow tourists to enter the country. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, who have been banned from traveling since March 2020, are allowed to travel abroad starting this month if they are vaccinated or have recently recovered from the Sars-Cov virus infection. 2. Despite struggling to cope with a new wave of infections, Egypt is trying to attract more foreign tourists. Beaches, cafes and restaurants located within guests are allowed to stay open. Travelers are required to present a negative Covid-19 test prior to entry. Latin America and the Caribbean: An open place, a shy place Visitors to the Caribbean countries fell by two-thirds last year, a low not seen since the 1980s. Bermuda was one of the hardest hit, with an 84% drop. Some islands, including Bonaire, Martinique and Montserrat still ban tourists from most countries. On some other islands, tourists are allowed to return provided they are monitored by electronic tracking devices. Several islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines have launched campaigns to attract tourists. Cruise lines are being sent from the US to Caribbean ports this summer. The US Virgin Islands has been the region’s success story this year, with arrivals falling just 27% between January and March. Meanwhile, Mexico does not ban flights, does not require visitors to be tested or quarantined upon arrival. This makes the number of tourists, although still decreasing, at a stable level, especially to sea tourist destinations. However, Mexico’s open policy angered some people in popular tourist areas. The rate of people infected with Covid-19 and hospitalized is increasing. Assistant Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell warned: “If public activities are not reduced, the situation will worsen.” USA and Canada: Be cautious The US continues to ban most visitors from Europe, China, India, Brazil and elsewhere. Incoming international visitors, including US citizens, must be tested for Covid-19 before boarding. The US State Department discourages business trips abroad, labeling many countries around the world as high risk. The border between the US and Canada remains closed for non-essential travel until June 21. Domestic air travel in the US is close to returning to 2019 levels. Many tourism businesses have shown impatience, saying that the Biden administration is too reticent to allow more international tourists to enter in the context that most of the country’s population has been vaccinated against Covid-19. -19. (according to AP)

Cyprus requires travelers to have a negative Covid-19 test valid 72 hours prior to departure to the country. (Photo: AP) The world’s tourism-driven economy destinations are racing to open their borders and revive economies ravaged by the pandemic. The large-scale deployment of Covid-19 vaccination has given many places new confidence to welcome tourists back. But the moment is still really difficult. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the global tourism industry lost nearly $4.5 trillion and lost 62 million jobs last year. The world aviation industry alone lost $126 billion last year and will lose another $48 billion this year. However, inconsistent regulations to reopen international travel globally could make it difficult for anyone planning to travel this summer. For example, in Cyprus there are restrictions on places considered higher risk, requiring arriving passengers to take a negative PCR test for Covid-19 valid 72 hours before departure and to do so. new test upon arrival. Travelers must also self-isolate until they receive their Covid-19 test results. Europe Europe is opening up gradually. Last week, the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) agreed to allow visitors who have had a full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, one of the vaccines licensed by the European Medicines Agency or come from places located in the UK. on the EU safety list. But this is a non-binding mechanism, each country can still apply its own rules and it is not clear exactly when this mechanism will come into effect. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday announced that from the 24th, the country will allow fully vaccinated tourists from the UK and Japan to enter. Visitors from other countries will be welcome back to Spain from June 7. Restaurants and hotels in Greece are preparing to welcome international guests back (Photo: AP) Tourists have started showing up in Greece after authorities this month decided to accept vaccination and test certificates from the EU and 21 other countries. On the Greek island of Naxos, business owners have begun pulling furniture out of storage, cleaning stores and reopening once-stuck seaside pubs. “People here are very optimistic and in fact there have been a lot of bookings in the last two weeks,” said Naxos Mayor Dimitris Lianos, optimistic that visitors will return significantly even by the end of the year. Croatia has also reopened – one of the few places in Europe that Americans can visit this summer. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have announced direct flights from New York to Dubrovnik this summer. Asia The Covid-19 epidemic is breaking out again in many parts of Asia, causing some countries and territories to pause cautious reopening steps. Hong Kong (China) and Singapore have postponed the “travel bubble” without quarantine for the second time after a new outbreak. Both Singapore and Hong Kong (China) have extended the mandatory quarantine period for many unvaccinated travelers. China has set up Covid-19 control points at toll booths, airports and train stations in Liaoning province, where new cases arose this month – travelers must present test results latest negative for Covid-19. Thailand may have to postpone its plan to welcome international visitors to Phuket this July (Photo: TheBangkokPost) Thailand, which closed its borders to control the outbreak for most of last year, is slowly starting to allow some foreign visitors to enter in the fall under tight control. However, the strong outbreak from the end of March until now has shown no sign of abating, prompting the country to re-impose strong measures such as closing entertainment venues and banning outdoor dining. The Phuket provincial government announced that the plan to reopen to international tourists who have been fully vaccinated from July 1 may not be able to go as planned if the daily number of Covid-19 cases does not exist. down to single digits. Middle East and Africa At the height of the pandemic last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed its borders and closed its airports to tourists. The capital, Abu Dhabi, still has strict measures including mandatory quarantine even for fully vaccinated citizens returning from certain countries. But the UAE’s largest city, Dubai, has been open to tourists since July last year with a few more restrictive regulations. Dubai – home to the world’s busiest airport for international travel – is drawing visitors from Europe to its beaches, bars, hotel pools, restaurants, cinemas, parks. leisure and spa. However, Dubai still applies social distancing regulations and requires mask wearing. Egypt is trying to attract more foreign tourists Meanwhile, the largest Gulf state Saudi Arabia does not allow tourists to enter the country. Saudi nationals from this month have been allowed to travel abroad if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from Covid-19. Egypt is trying to attract more foreign tourists even as it faces a new wave of disease outbreaks. The country does not impose new restrictions on beaches, cafes and restaurants in hotels catering to tourists. Egypt even lowered the price of the tourist visa fee, although it still requires a negative test result for Covid-19 before entering. Latin America and the Caribbean The Caribbean region is largely dependent on tourism. In the last year, visitors to the area have dropped by two-thirds to levels not seen since the 1980s. Bermuda has been one of the hardest hit, with an 84% drop in arrivals. Some islands, including Bonaire, Martinique and Montserrat, remain closed to most countries. Elsewhere, return travelers are limited with epidemic prevention regulations including electronic trace management. Several islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, created “bubble resorts” to attract tourists. Cruise lines are planning to bring tourists from the US to Caribbean ports this summer. Mexico remains open to international visitors (Image: AP) Mexico does not apply no-fly regulations, does not require travelers to be tested or quarantined upon arrival in the country. Therefore, although the number of visitors decreased, it remained stable, especially in coastal destinations. But, this has increased the rate of Covid-19 infection, forcing authorities in some places to impose restrictions in public places. USA and Canada The US currently still bans most travelers from Europe, China, India, Brazil and elsewhere. Guests, including US citizens traveling on international flights, must have a negative Covid-19 test before boarding the flight. The US State Department continues to advise citizens not to make unnecessary trips abroad. The border between the US and Canada remains closed to non-essential travel until June 21. In the US, domestic aviation has returned to near 2019 levels, but the smokeless industry is slowly showing patience with restrictive regulations. “As we’re seeing vaccination rates increase and Covid-19 incidence decline, from an economic standpoint, reopening,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of the American Travel Association. International travel is extremely important.”