This article covers June 2020. Visit our up-to-date article with the latest news on Corona virus and travelhere.
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The EU has now formally released its list of safe nations from which travellers will be allow to enter the bloc from 1 July. As expected, the USA is excluded from the list, as is Russia, Brazil and India. Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay all made the cut, with the addition of China – pending reciprocal arrangements being made in Beijing. Read the full story.
Lufthansa is looking to give passengers the option of taking a Covid-19 test at Frankfurt airport, to avoid having to quarantine on arrival at their destination. Passengers will have to foot the bill, but results could be provided in as little as 2–3 hours. Read the full story.
A new train will be running the tracks in Yorkshire from next month, taking travellers between Skipton, North Yorkshire and Appleby in Cumbria. Post-corona, people will be looking to wide-open spaces to explore on foot or by bike – and this could be the ticket to take them there. Read the full story.
Daily tourist trains to serve England’s ‘most scenic’ railway https://t.co/uYOgMmXWGC
— Settle-Carlisle Railway (@SettleCarlisle) June 24, 2020
Travel operators have confirmed a surge in UK-based bookings, fuelled by confirmation that the country plans to replace its blanket 14-day quarantine with “air bridge” arrangements. Italy, France, Greece and Spain are proving the most popular destinations. Read the full story.
The EU is expected to announce tomorrow which nations will be deemed safe for travel outside the bloc. The list is thought to include 15 non-EU countries, and does not include the US. Read the full story.
The Central American nation of Belize is preparing to reopen on 15 August. Travellers will be expected to comply with a detailed list of health and safety measures for the duration of their trip, including testing negative within 72 hours of arrival – or else at the airport on arrival. Read the full story.
While Ireland prepares to relax its border restrictions for several low-risk countries from 9 July, the 14-day quarantine for Brits will most likely be extended. Read the full story.
The gorgeous Portuguese island of Madeira will be reopening from 1 July. Most local businesses have adopted the “Clean & Safe” stamp created by VisitPortual, so you know you’ll be in safe hands.
Next month more accessible https://t.co/G2kgBJyHGk
— Madeira Islands (@madeira_islands) June 28, 2020
Italy is the latest country to publish new guidelines and protocols to reassure travellers in the wake of coronavirus. New hygiene and social-distancing measures are outlined for every aspect of the travel experience. Read the new guidelines.
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg has confirmed that the nation will be reopening to European countries from 15 July, so long as they meet strict safety criteria. Read the full story.
Environment Secretary George Eustice has confirmed that the UK is working on a plan to replace its strict blanket quarantine. New rules would allow international travellers to enter from low-risk countries, though others would remain barred. Read the full story.
Tourist hotspots including France, Italy and Spain, expected to be exempt from UK quarantinehttps://t.co/ndwwvB2kb4
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 25, 2020
The UK public is gearing up for a very British holiday from 4 July. Holiday cottages have reporting record bookings after Boris Johnson’s latest announcement. Read the full story.
New Jersey, New York and Connecticut have introduced new rules requiring people arriving from certain states with high coronavirus case figures to quarantine for a 14-day period. Read the full story.
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Air bridges with “core” EU countries could allow Brits to holiday abroad this summer, without facing the current 14-day quarantine on their return. Ministers are considering air bridges with nations including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Austria and Germany. Read the full story.
As most EU states prepare to reopen their borders to international travellers from outside the region in July, reports suggest that US visitors – as well as Russian and Brazilian tourists – could be excluded, given their high case numbers. Read the full story.
The Maldives has confirmed it will reopen to international tourists from 15 July, with no travel restrictions in place. Free 30-day visas will be issued on arrival, while only those displaying coronavirus symptoms will be required to take a test. Read the full story.
While Australia and New Zealand have already confirmed they’ll be creating a Trans-Tasman bubble in the post-Covid world, Fiji has announced plans to create a “Bula Bubble” between itself, New Zealand and Australia. Read the full story.
Fiji's Prime Minister is currently working on a "Bula Bubble", between Fiji, New Zealand & Australia.
— The Coconet (@TheCoconetTV) June 23, 2020
Funny guys @RoqandCav come thru with some Fresh Tips for when we get to visit Fiji again, from Fiji Time, how to roll your R's like a local and more!https://t.co/V4scbcEw9u
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia announced that it wouldn’t be permitting international visitors to make the pilgrimage this year in light of coronavirus. Instead, a quota of Saudi citizens and residents will be allowed to make the journey. Read the full story.
In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that pubs, restaurants, museums, galleries and cinemas will be allowed to reopen from 4 July, in the latest easing of lockdown measures. The 2-metre rule will also be downgraded to a “1-metre-plus” approach. Shielding rules for the most vulnerable will be relaxed from 6 July. Read the full story.
Today we have announced that those who are shielding from coronavirus will be able to meet in a group of up to 6, whilst following social distancing guidance, from 6 July in England.#StayAlert pic.twitter.com/aQNOcqdUEC
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) June 22, 2020
Spain opened its borders and lifted its state of emergency on Sunday – three months after introducing the measures in response to coronavirus. Spain’s foreign affairs minister confirmed that British citizens will be among those welcomed back, “out of respect” for those with second homes in the Mediterranean country. Spain has also launched a new publicity campaign in an attempt to bring the punters back, called Spain for Sure. Read the full story.
A country you can trust. A country you can believe in. #SpainForSure pic.twitter.com/jTTgg4657q
— Global Spain (@GlobalSpain) June 19, 2020
Egypt has begun gradually restarting its tourist industry, despite daily new coronavirus infections still topping the thousand mark. The tourism sector is a big moneymaker in Egypt, contributing around fifteen percent of the country’s GDP. Read the full story.
Ireland’s 14-day quarantine is likely to last until 9 July, acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed on Friday. Read the full story.
Puerto Rico – already open for domestic travel – is set to welcome international visitors back from 15 July. Hotels will be able to operate at fifty percent capacity, while attractions and tour operators should also be in full swing by that date. Read the full story.
Denmark is set to lift its coronavirus border restrictions for the majority of the Schengen zone – provided countries have low Covid infection rates – from 27 June. Non-EU countries in the area will be assessed on a case-by-case basis; Brits will be welcomed back, though Portugal and Sweden will face exclusion. Read the full story.
For anyone in Taiwan missing the airport experience, Songshan Airport has opened with a new bookable experience. Included in the 90-minute experience (ordeal?) is an airport tour, mock immigration and change to board and disembark an aircraft.
Macron, the French president, is expected to ask the UK to rethink its stringent 14-day quarantine on all new arrivals. There’s currently a reciprocal “voluntary quarantine” request for all British visitors arriving in France. Read the full story.
The Spanish government has pledged €4.25 billion in aid to its tourist industry. The sector – which contributes around ten percent of Spain’s GDP – has been devastated by coronavirus. Read the full story.
Australian flag carrier Qantas has revealed it will be axing international flights until October, though flights to New Zealand could still go ahead. The news comes on the back of Australia announcing its borders would be closed for the rest of the year. Read the full story.
Reports suggest that Australia – which has largely handled the coronavirus pandemic well – could keep its borders closed to international travel for the rest of the year. In the meantime, it would relax travel for students and other long-term visitors. Read the full story.
US restrictions on non-essential travel at the Canadian and Mexican borders – due to expire on 23 June – have been extended by the Trump administration, possibly for a further thirty days. Likewise, Mexico confirmed it will be extending its reciprocal restrictions into July. Read the full story.
EU air traffic is still steadily increasing, with 15 June being the busiest day since mid-March. Levels are still way below 2019 equivalents, but it’s hopeful nevertheless.
Interesting facts in our latest report https://t.co/sSmD7kv5kT: 15/06/20 had 7,930 flights- the busiest since mid-March. Increases in movements @Lufthansa +45.2% @airfrance +36.9% @SunExpress +200% @NetJets +163.2% @Transport_EU @IATA @A4Europe @CANSOEurope @ACI_EUROPE @eraaorg pic.twitter.com/QYfj2UsP91
— Eamonn Brennan (@BrennanEN23) June 16, 2020
Spain is due to reopen its borders to the EU next week, but UK citizens could be excluded from the party – instead, subject to a 14-day quarantine. The potential move is seen as a response to the introduction of a 14-day quarantine to all new arrivals in the UK, active since 8 June. Read the full story.
On Monday, restaurants in the French capital reopened their doors fully – to a cautious crowd. With tourists notably absent and most Parisians still playing things safe, many are still not operating at full capacity.
Internal EU borders are operating largely restriction-free from today (15 June). A growing list of countries is set to begin lifting their border restrictions – including France, the latest EU nation to announce its reopening (at the end of last week). There are still some individual caveats in place, which vary from country to country, but many exclude people entering from high-risk European nations without a quarantine period – that mostly applies to the UK. The next phase of reopening with see much of the EU easing external border controls from 1 July. Read the full story.
Spain is accelerating its reopening plans: the Mediterranean country is now intending to drop its border restrictions with Schengen-zone countries on 21 June, ten days earlier than planned. The border with Portugal, however, will remain closed until 1 July (at Lisbon’s request). Read the full story.
Over in the USA, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new coronavirus guidelines emphasizing that the public should remain cautious on public transport and think twice before making any travel plans. Read the full story.
European air traffic is continuing to pick up apace, and could be back at 85% of its usual capacity by mid-July.
Traffic picking up & by mid-July we expect 12,400 flights, maybe more.👍Becoming more optimistic about recovery which is following our scenario for a coordinated reopening. Full report on impact of #COVID19 https://t.co/aVJDxGFYic @Transport_EU @CANSOEurope @IATA @A4Europe pic.twitter.com/zxFrGu9p0s
— Eamonn Brennan (@BrennanEN23) June 11, 2020
Thailand is set to lift its nationwide curfew next week, and will continue relaxing its coronavirus restrictions. The country confirmed its reopening plans for international travel will be based on so-called “travel bubbles”, but with no firm date given for kick-off. Read the full story.
Cuba has released cautious plans for its reopening. International visitors will be restricted to the beach resorts at first, with Havana off-limits for the first wave of travellers. Domestic travel with resume first, with more details to be released shortly. Read the full story.
As of July, the Maldives will be reopening to all visitors – with no extra border controls or coronavirus restrictions in place. The island group has had its borders closed since March.
See you in July#VisitMaldives pic.twitter.com/NriaGL8ysq
— Ministry of Tourism (@MoTmv) June 10, 2020
From 15 June, Finland will be lifting all its travel restrictions to Norway, Denmark and Iceland, as well as the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Sweden – which has pursued a controversial “herd-immunity” response to the virus – is noticeably absent from the list. Read the full story.
The European Commission has called on EU countries to remove their internal border restrictions on 15 June. While many nations have already started removing border controls or plan to do so on that date, others have not yet made the move. The external travel ban is likely to be lifted gradually from 1 July. Read the full story.
While Germany is lifting its travel restrictions to a raft of EU countries in the coming weeks, it has urged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the UK and other nations outside the EU until at least the end of the August. Read the full story.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a free an interactive online map when travellers can track restrictions around the world. To keep up with the fast-changing developments, the map is being updated more than two hundred times a day. See the map.
Which country borders are open? Where are there (dreaded!) quarantine restrictions? IATA created an interactive world map to help you understand COVID-19 travel regulations, country by country.
— IATA (@IATA) June 11, 2020
View the 🌍: https://t.co/sCBTHhwm33
Press release: https://t.co/STOCsWZbKU pic.twitter.com/bhqvuQqGEw
Spain has confirmed it will be welcoming back some eleven thousand German visitors to the Balearic Islands – two weeks before reopening its borders officially. However, there won't be a Spanish summer on the horizon for Brits, after the British embassy in Madrid said there were no plans to create a travel corridor with the UK. Read the full story.
Domestic travel has rebooted in Malaysia, where interstate borders, shopping malls and hair salons have reopened. International borders remain closed. Read the full story.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce that zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas will reopen in England from 15 June. Social-distancing rules will remain in place. Read the full story.
There are rumblings we’ll be opening SOON... The government has indicated a change of heart on zoos reopening – and we're excited! Our zoo has been made super safe and our animals are ready! https://t.co/qSDyVhBMeD
— London Zoo (@zsllondonzoo) June 9, 2020
The results of a YouGov poll, commissioned by Sky News, have suggested that only 16 percent of Brits plan on travelling this year. While 68 percent said they didn’t intend on travelling at all in 2020, the remaining 16 percent said they were unsure. Read the full story.
Russia has partially reopened its borders, allowing citizens to travel abroad to work, study or care for elderly or sick relatives. The Prime Minister has also announced that some lockdown restrictions across the country will be eased. In the capital, Muscovites can now go for walks whenever they want, while restaurants and cafés will be able to open their outdoors terraces from 16 June. Read the full story.
Over in Mexico, the big-hitting beach resorts of Quintana Roo – think: Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, among others – have reopened their doors and sands. Though there are strict quotas and a “Mexican Caribbean Clean & Safe Check Certification” in place to protect the safety of customers, visitors can now frequent the hotels, resorts and other attractions. Read the full story.
New Zealand has lifted the last of its lockdown restrictions, with handshakes and hugs allowed again. Strict border controls remain. Read the full story.
“I did a little dance."
— The National (@TheNationalNews) June 8, 2020
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declares New Zealand free of Covid-19 https://t.co/sIQjQJfj2F pic.twitter.com/fyIDdJ1B5j
The EU has committed to lifting border controls within the region by the end of June, though most EU nations are already set to remove internal border controls on 15 June. The group’s ban on non-essential foreign travel has been extended until 1 July, meanwhile; UK travellers are exempt, but are required to quarantine for two weeks on arrival by some governments on the continent. Read the full story.
Officials have announced that Sri Lanka can reopen to tourism from August, but with strict new regulations in place. Visitors will have to test negative in multiple coronavirus tests: one taken 72-hours before departure and another at the airport on arrival, while a third test will be required if the party is staying for more than ten days. Read the full story.
Today is World Oceans Day, marking the importance of our oceans and seas – home to an array of colourful inhabitants, and vital for keeping our planet healthy. This year’s theme is “innovation for a sustainable ocean”: show your support by adopting a coral in Tahiti, sign the petition calling on governments to protect thirty percent of our blue planet by 2030, or take part in some of the excellent virtual events on offer.
From today, beer will be back on the menu in Belgian bars. Up to three friends can now head out to enjoy a brew, as the government moves into its next phase of easing lockdown. The Belgian government is also planning to distribute free rail tickets to its residents in a bid to stimulate domestic travel.
As restrictions are eased further in Belgium, the country prepares for a new normal https://t.co/cIsDIQXiNx
— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) June 8, 2020
Switzerland could welcome visitors back from within the EU and UK from 15 June. The government had already stated that it will be reopening to Germany, Austria and France from that date, but this would greatly expand its list. Read the full story.
From this summer, it looks like Japan will be welcoming business travellers back from New Zealand, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. The move – which has been hinted at for weeks – will allow business travellers to bypass the 14-day quarantine, provided they provide a negative test result. Read the full story.
World Travel Market organizers have confirmed that the event, scheduled for 2–4 November in London, will go ahead as planned. The ExCeL venue was turned into a hospital (NHS Nightingale) in April to treat Covid-19 patients, but is currently on “standby”. Read the full story.
National Bike Week is set to kick off tomorrow (6–14 June). The coronavirus pandemic has seen cycling spike in popularity, while cities around the world are using the opportunity to become more bike-friendly. Make the most of National Bike Week by taking off on your own two wheels, with a range of fabulous routes to explore, including some green routes in spitting distance of London.
Today is #WorldBikeDay 🚴♀️ Why don't you test out your pedals ahead of #BikeWeek next week? We've lots of great hints and tips coming your way so follow the hashtag #LVBikeWeek2020 to keep up to date with it all 📱 pic.twitter.com/XnOPFL6eMe
— Lee Valley Park (@LeeValleyPark) June 3, 2020
In the final phase of relaxing its lockdown, Italy’s regional and international borders have now been reopened. Without a quarantine period in place, people can now visit the country freely, though there are question marks over whether visitors will feel confident going back any time soon. Read the full story.
Ryanair has been the latest travel company to criticize the UK’s 14-day quarantine plan, due to come into effect on 8 June, calling it “useless and ineffective”. Spain, meanwhile, is keen to welcome British travellers back when it reopens its borders on 1 July, but has warned this will depend on the UK’s quarantine plans. Read the full story.
Several Caribbean nations are set to bring back international travellers in the coming weeks: St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and the U.S. Virgin Islands are all due to reopen this week; Jamaica and Aruba later this month; while the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic are looking to welcome tourists back to their shores in July. Health screenings, temperature checks and facemasks will be commonplace, but with US visitors among the first welcomed back – where case rates are the highest in the world – the risks are significant. These island nations are heavily dependent on tourism, and US visitors account for around fifty percent of the trade. Read the full story.
In a fast tracking of its reopening plans, Austria has lifted travel restrictions for all of its geographical neighbours, with the exception of Italy. All corona-related border and health checks will be lifted for Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Read the full story.
Over in the Maastrict in the Netherlands, meanwhile, where lockdown was eased this week, residents in one restaurant returned to find their drinks delivered by robots. At Dadawan, an Asian-fusion restaurant in the southern city, the robots were drafted in as a welcome hygiene measure.
Meet Amy, Aker and James – the robot staffers at the Dadawan restaurant in the Dutch city of Maastricht, brought in to help serve customers after the Netherlands eased restrictions this week #RobotsAtWork https://t.co/x57s2Jpdhk pic.twitter.com/v6Uf1rLiGM
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 4, 2020
The Portuguese foreign minister, Augusto Santos Silva, has confirmed that talks – exploring the possibility of an “air bridge” between the UK and Portugal to be agreed by the end of June – are ongoing. Businesses have been highly critical of the UK’s plans to introduce a 14-day quarantine on all new arrivals from 8 June, and there’s been increased speculation that Johnson’s government is looking to soften their plans. Read the full story.
The Czech government has laid out its new system for travel. From 15 June, European countries will be organized into low-, medium- and high-risk categories. Czechs will be able to travel freely to and from low-risk countries without restrictions; to medium-risk countries without restrictions, though new arrivals from these nations will have to provide they are not infected. If travelling to high-risk countries, Czechs will have to test negative for Covid-19 before re-entering the country. Low-risk countries include Germany, Poland and Austria, and medium-risk Italy, Spain, France and Ireland. There are only two nations deemed high risk: the UK and Sweden. Read the full story.
Germany has lifted its blanket European travel ban, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease in Germany, France and Italy. From 15 June, citizens from EU states – as well as Britain, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein – will be allowed to travel to Germany, provided there are no significant lockdowns or travel restrictions in origin countries. In France, meanwhile, café culture has returned to the streets, though coffees must be sipped one-metre apart.
After almost three months of closure, France's bars, cafés and restaurants reopen todayhttps://t.co/2cscZH8C4P
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) June 2, 2020
As of yesterday, beaches and museums and now open again in Spain. Locals – clearly glad to be out again – flocked back, ahead of the country’s plans to bring visitors back in July. Barcelona’s beaches remain shut, as they are deemed higher risk. Read the full story.
This week sees lockdown ease in Turkey, with domestic flights and car travel reinstated across the country. Restaurants and cafés were also reopened, as well as Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Read the full story.
More than 200 UK travel companies have called on the British government to cancel its 14-day quarantine on all new arrivals, due to come into effect on 8 June. However, it appears the government could be looking into ways to relax the measures, including replacing the blanket quarantine with “air bridges”. Read the full story.
Following news that Disney will be restarting its operations in phases from 11 July, Walt Disney World has announced it will be cancelling dining reservations and pausing new hotel bookings as part of a revamp to make the parks safer in light of Covid-19. Other changes could include requirements to wear face masks and temperature checks. Read the full story.
Wizz Air is taking the opportunity to expand in Western Europe, opening a base in Italy and introducing new flights between the UK and Spain. The budget carrier is looking to benefit when demand bounces back. Read the full story.
Greece has expanded its list of countries from which visitors will be allowed to enter from 15 June. The 29 nations include Germany, Norway and China, but still exclude the UK, Spain and Italy. Read the full story.
Japan is considering allowing corporate visitors to enter the country again, provided they test negative in two separate coronavirus tests. Meanwhile, as schools, cinemas and departments stores open in Tokyo, reports indicate that Japan could open its borders to select “low-risk” countries in the coming months, including to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam. Read the full story.
The Maldives will be reopening to visitors from 1 July, but travellers can expect some tight new rules and regulations in place for their visit. All trips must be at least two weeks in duration, travel insurance will be compulsory, and travellers will be subject to a Covid-19 test before departure and a further test on arrival. Read the full story.
Do you want to experience a real flavour of the Maldivian life? Stay at a local island where families will invite you for delicious meals, and take you on a tour to introduce you to the ways of their life, culture and work.#TheSunWillShineAgain #Maldives #TravelTomorrow pic.twitter.com/wnj9A92jSN
— Visit Maldives (@visitmaldives) June 1, 2020
You made it all the way back to the start of June. Go even more back in time for Corona Travel updates May 2020.
Header image NaruFoto / Shutterstock
Helen worked as a Senior Travel Editor at Rough Guides and Insight Guides, based in the London office. Among her favourite projects to work on are inspirational guides like