14 tourist hotspots opening up for travellers in the next eight weeks

As countries across the world, including Europe, start to reopen their borders as they emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, many people have started asking when they can start to travel again.

With economies stagnating and lockdown restrictions easing in many countries, airlines and tourist bodies are keen for people to start planning holidays again.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently advising against all but essential travel abroad and the government has announced that two-week quarantines will be imposed on new arrivals to the UK from 8 June, with a fine for anyone who breaches the rules.

But some countries have announced that they will welcome UK tourists – albeit with certain conditions or restrictions still in place.

Armand Arton, CEO of The Passport Index, which is tracking which countries are opening their doors to tourists, said: “People worldwide have developed an insatiable appetite for global mobility and the freedom to travel, relax and work in a large number of different countries with very few hindrances.

“Since we started the Passport Index in 2015, we’ve seen a consistent year-on-year increase in global mobility and we are confident that COVID-19 will be no more than a temporary anomaly to an ever-increasing trend.

“Temporary suspensions to visa-free entry arrangements for some countries are just that – temporary. We are confident that the world will reopen quickly and safely.”

Here are some of the countries who are reopening their borders to international tourists over the next eight weeks:-

June

Italy

Italy reopened its borders on 3 June to visitors from Europe, including the UK, unwinding one of the world's longest and most rigid lockdowns. Travel to and from non-European destinations will remain prohibited until at least June 15.

Portugal

People arriving in Portugal from all other European countries, except Spain and Italy, can enter freely and there are no quarantine requirements.

Croatia

Croatia has opened its borders to citizens of Germany and nine other mostly east European EU states. Other EU nationals need a reason to enter, such as a tourist booking confirmation.

Bulgaria

Most European travellers can enter Bulgaria, but people from eight countries heavily affected by the pandemic, including the UK, Spain and Italy, must spend 14 days in quarantine.

Austria

Austria will lift all coronavirus-related border restrictions including quarantines from Thursday for new arrivals from all neighbouring countries except Italy.

Cyprus

Visitors from the UK and Russia are still barred, but Cyprus will allow visitors from Germany, Greece and a number of other countries from 9 June, provided they have a test up to three days before arrival showing they do not have COVID-19. The test requirement will be dropped from June 20.

France

France said it wants the EU's internal borders reopened from 15 June and has passed a law allowing it to impose quarantine on visitors from specific nations it deems necessary, with reciprocity a key factor.

Greece

International flights to Athens and Thessaloniki airports are expected to resume on 15 June. People arriving from locations deemed high-risk — including the UK — will be tested for coronavirus and those testing positive will be quarantined for 14 days. Those testing negative will have to self-isolate for a week.

Germany

Germany will lift a travel ban for EU member states, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein from 15 June.

Netherlands

EU citizens and people from the UK, Norway and Switzerland can visit but borders remain closed to non-European travellers until 15 June.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is allowing unrestricted entry for citizens of around 20 European countries from June 15. Visitors from about a dozen other countries including the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will require a test or quarantine.

Hungary

At the moment only foreign travellers from neighbouring countries are allowed into Hungary and some face a two-week quarantine. The country is expected to lift a state of emergency around 20 June.

According to The Passport Index, other countries expected to reopen in June include: Bahrain, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Japan, Romania, Serbia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, South Korea, Ireland, Latvia and Norway.

July

Spain

Spain will reopen to international tourism from 1 July. Authorities hope to allow holidaymakers from some low-risk countries to visit before that date, after a national state of emergency ends on 21 June.

According to The Passport Index, countries due to open in July include: Belgium, Sweden, Canada, Taiwan, Ukraine, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Morocco, South Africa, Israel, Russia and Jordan.

August

The following countries are expected to reopen their borders on August 1: Brazil, Armenia, France, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, The Passport Index added.

September

The US will reopen its borders to international travellers from September, the website added.

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