Europe opens to American tourists, will Biden open the U.S. to Europeans?
In recent weeks we have seen how some European nations first, and the European Commission later, have announced their intention to [...]
In recent weeks we have seen how some European nations first, and the European Commission later, have announced their intention to open to U.S. tourist arrivals for the summer of 2021.
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In fact, nonessential travel by Americans to Europe, or the vast majority of European nations, has been banned since the outbreak of the pandemic. To be fair, last summer some nations such as Croatia and Greece had nevertheless waived the ban imposed by Brussels, allowing tourists to reach the seaside resorts, and sought to replicate the same decision for the summer now approaching.
Of course, there are flights covid tested between the US and Italy, but are reserved only for essential travel and those with visas (ESTAs have, in fact, been suspended and previously issued ones canceled).
We read about how, for example, New York plans to open everything on July 1 and other U.S. states such as theAlaska even arranging to vaccinate tourists.
But the main question remains: when will Gov. Biden lift the ban on travel to the U.S. from the EU and UK? The pressures are many and from both sides of the Atlantic. As Italy's tourism economy suffers, so do U.S. tourism businesses because of the lack of travelers.
Reopening the borders would be important for both the airlines and the whole supply chain. As well as for the rest of the business world, because not everyone is able to go through the "old-fashioned" visa practice at the embassy.
The United States is counting on vaccinating 70% of the adult population by June, England is expected to reach a similar result, and European countries are slightly behind: the latest news, however, finally speaks of a clear acceleration, including Italy.
So what is missing for the reopening?
Trump had, out of spite for Biden, lifted the ban, but in fact one of his successor's first decisions had restored, indeed tightened, the absolute ban on travel.
Now that the (vaccinated) Americans will get the green light. to fly back to the EU to visit our art cities or beaches, it makes sense to expect a similar decision from the U.S. Department of Tourism. An open corridor in only one direction would lead to internal controversy from the U.S. tourism industry affected as much as the rest of the world by the pandemic.
Now that the european green pass seems reality, I expect the U.S. decision to come soon, perhaps before the G7 scheduled for mid-June in Britain.
