Traveling is starting to get easier

The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting closer and closer, day by day restrictions and entry requirements for moving from one country to another begin to fall. Yesterday it was England that removed all restrictions and requirements for (vaccinated) travelers heading to the Island.

Today France also made official the return to the "former world," at least for passengers who have completed the vaccination cycle. 

Then there are the destinations that are slowly beginning to accept visitors of all kinds again, including simple tourists. We have written about Australia in recent days, Vietnam and the Philippines are the latest two Asian nations to announce the reopening of their borders.

This list is still missing Japan. The Empire of the Rising Sun has yet to make any announcements about reopening its borders for tourists, the same goes for destinations such as the China and Hong Kong, indeed here the rumors are still talking about a very long time before they can return to travel as before.

My point of view

I find it fair that Finally say goodbye to swabbing before departure or upon arrival. The omicron variant has taught us how ineffective rapid tests are, while PCRs-as well as being expensive-take so long to analyze increasing the pre-start stress.

The test before re-entry is even worse, you risk being stranded abroad for days/weeks even if you are symptom-free and even if you will travel on an airplane wearing a face mask at all times and where air exchange, thanks in part to HEPA filters, has ensured that in recent years airplanes were (perhaps) the safest means of transportation.

For Italians, the issue of travel bans and destinations divided by lists still remains open. This should end at the latest with the closing of the state of crisis in late spring. From then on, we can all go back to traveling where we want, how we want without having to ask for permits or worry about risks when we return.

The end of the pandemic is still a long way off, but at least for those who like to travel there will be one more reason to be vaccinated, which is to be able to travel freely.