Countries Eager to Reopen for Tourists
2021-05-29
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1Countries dependent on tourism are working to reopen borders in order to help their economies badly damaged by the pandemic.
2The World Travel and Tourism Council says the tourism industry lost almost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs last year.
3The airline business alone lost $126 billion last year and may lose another $48 billion this year.
4Government officials in many countries hope that they can welcome vaccinated visitors.
5But as the summer months get closer, timing is important.
6Virginia Messina is the leader of the World Travel and Tourism Council.
7"Summer is a strong season for most markets," she said. "We really hope to see restrictions ease."
8Almost every country in the world has a different policy for international travelers.
9That could make it hard for anyone planning a vacation.
10Here is how different parts of the world are starting to reopen to travelers:
11Reopening has been slow in Europe, which has been hard for Greece, Spain and Turkey.
12The Mediterranean countries are heavily dependent on tourism.
13But recently, the European Union, or EU, ambassadors agreed to permit visitors who are fully vaccinated.
14People from countries considered safe from COVID-19 are also permitted to enter.
15The changes require approval from EU member countries and it is unclear when they will take effect.
16Spain will let British and Japanese visitors enter the country if they have been vaccinated.
17People from other countries, including the United States, can start to come in June 7.
18Many tourists are already starting to arrive in Greece.
19In early May, Greek officials decided to accept vaccinations and tests from the EU and 21 other countries.
20Croatia has also reopened. It is one of the few European countries that Americans can visit.
21Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have announced direct flights from New York to Dubrovnik this summer.
22The virus is rising again across parts of Asia, causing many nations to slow down their reopening.
23Hong Kong and Singapore delayed the opening of a quarantine-free area for visitors after rising cases of infection.
24Hong Kong also lengthened the required quarantines for many unvaccinated visitors.
25And visitors in China have to show recent record of virus testing.
26Thailand had closed its borders and kept the virus under control for most of last year.
27Foreign visitors were slowly permitted to enter last autumn under strict controls.
28But the country is closed to many tourists again after infections rose quickly in March.
29Narong, a worker in the Bangkok entertainment industry, said, "I am very angry with the government. They should have done better."
30At the height of the pandemic last year, the United Arab Emirates closed its borders and airports to travelers.
31The capital, Abu Dhabi, still has strict measures including required quarantines for fully vaccinated residents returning from some countries.
32In UAE's biggest city of Dubai, officials have welcomed travelers since last July with few restrictions other than a negative COVID-19 test.
33The city is hoping to draw Europeans looking to escape quarantines to its beaches, nightlife and entertainment.
34Saudi Arabia does not permit tourists to enter the country.
35But Egypt is trying to draw more tourists even with a new wave of infections in the country.
36During the Eid holiday, beaches, cafes and restaurants stayed open.
37Egypt also lowered the cost of tourist visas, though it requires a negative COVID-19 test before entering the country.
38Visitors to tourist economies in the Caribbean fell by two-thirds last year.
39Bermuda was among the hardest hit, suffering an 84 percent drop.
40Some islands, including Bonaire, Martinique and Montserrat, still ban travel from most countries.
41Other islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have created special areas for tourists.
42Mexico has no flight restrictions, no requirements for visitors to pass a test or quarantine upon arrival.
43That has kept a small but continuing number of tourists to its beach towns.
44That approach, however, may have led to the spread of the virus.
45In the beach towns of Cancún and Cozumel, infection and hospitalization rates are rising.
46And the government has started limiting crowds in public places.
47The United States continues to ban most visitors from Europe, China, India, Brazil and other places.
48International travelers to the U.S., including American citizens, must pass a COVID-19 test before going on airplanes.
49The U.S. State Department is telling citizens to avoid foreign travel.
50And Canada remains closed to most travelers from the U.S.
51I'm Jill Robbins.
52And I'm Dan Friedell.
1Countries dependent on tourism are working to reopen borders in order to help their economies badly damaged by the pandemic. 2The World Travel and Tourism Council says the tourism industry lost almost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs last year. The airline business alone lost $126 billion last year and may lose another $48 billion this year. 3Government officials in many countries hope that they can welcome vaccinated visitors. But as the summer months get closer, timing is important. 4Virginia Messina is the leader of the World Travel and Tourism Council. "Summer is a strong season for most markets," she said. "We really hope to see restrictions ease." 5Almost every country in the world has a different policy for international travelers. That could make it hard for anyone planning a vacation. Here is how different parts of the world are starting to reopen to travelers: 6In Europe 7Reopening has been slow in Europe, which has been hard for Greece, Spain and Turkey. The Mediterranean countries are heavily dependent on tourism. 8But recently, the European Union, or EU, ambassadors agreed to permit visitors who are fully vaccinated. People from countries considered safe from COVID-19 are also permitted to enter. The changes require approval from EU member countries and it is unclear when they will take effect. 9Spain will let British and Japanese visitors enter the country if they have been vaccinated. People from other countries, including the United States, can start to come in June 7. 10Many tourists are already starting to arrive in Greece. In early May, Greek officials decided to accept vaccinations and tests from the EU and 21 other countries. 11Croatia has also reopened. It is one of the few European countries that Americans can visit. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have announced direct flights from New York to Dubrovnik this summer. 12In Asia 13The virus is rising again across parts of Asia, causing many nations to slow down their reopening. 14Hong Kong and Singapore delayed the opening of a quarantine-free area for visitors after rising cases of infection. Hong Kong also lengthened the required quarantines for many unvaccinated visitors. And visitors in China have to show recent record of virus testing. 15Thailand had closed its borders and kept the virus under control for most of last year. Foreign visitors were slowly permitted to enter last autumn under strict controls. But the country is closed to many tourists again after infections rose quickly in March. 16Narong, a worker in the Bangkok entertainment industry, said, "I am very angry with the government. They should have done better." 17Africa and the Middle East 18At the height of the pandemic last year, the United Arab Emirates closed its borders and airports to travelers. The capital, Abu Dhabi, still has strict measures including required quarantines for fully vaccinated residents returning from some countries. 19In UAE's biggest city of Dubai, officials have welcomed travelers since last July with few restrictions other than a negative COVID-19 test. The city is hoping to draw Europeans looking to escape quarantines to its beaches, nightlife and entertainment. 20Saudi Arabia does not permit tourists to enter the country. But Egypt is trying to draw more tourists even with a new wave of infections in the country. 21During the Eid holiday, beaches, cafes and restaurants stayed open. Egypt also lowered the cost of tourist visas, though it requires a negative COVID-19 test before entering the country. 22Latin America and the Caribbean 23Visitors to tourist economies in the Caribbean fell by two-thirds last year. Bermuda was among the hardest hit, suffering an 84 percent drop. 24Some islands, including Bonaire, Martinique and Montserrat, still ban travel from most countries. Other islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have created special areas for tourists. 25Mexico has no flight restrictions, no requirements for visitors to pass a test or quarantine upon arrival. That has kept a small but continuing number of tourists to its beach towns. 26That approach, however, may have led to the spread of the virus. In the beach towns of Cancún and Cozumel, infection and hospitalization rates are rising. And the government has started limiting crowds in public places. 27U.S. and Canada 28The United States continues to ban most visitors from Europe, China, India, Brazil and other places. International travelers to the U.S., including American citizens, must pass a COVID-19 test before going on airplanes. 29The U.S. State Department is telling citizens to avoid foreign travel. And Canada remains closed to most travelers from the U.S. 30I'm Jill Robbins. 31And I'm Dan Friedell. 32David Koenig and Menelaos Hadjicostis reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 33____________________________________________________________ 34Words in This Story 35tourism- n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure 36timing - n. the time when something happens or is done especially when it is thought of as having a good or bad effect on the result 37flight - n. a journey on an airplane 38quarantine - n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading 39resident- n. someone who lives in a particular place 40negative - adj. not showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance