American Tourists to Be Welcomed Back to Europe After Bloc Lifts Restrictions

American tourists, pack your bags!  Your European holiday awaits, now that the European Union gave the green light for member nations to return for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The move will allow visitors from the U.S. in time for the crucial summer travel season on the Continent.

The European Union on Wednesday added the United States to the bloc’s official white list of countries, a list updated every two weeks indicating from what countries tourists may enter.  Australia, Israel, and Japan are several of the nations on the white list.

The measure is expected to be approved at an EU meeting in Brussels on Friday.

Most Americans have been unable to travel to Europe since March of last year.

Several European nations including Greece, Italy, and Spain have already opened their borders to Americans.

Each member state can set its own requirements for entry and that can include proof of vaccination and a quarantine requirement.  Most countries, however, are expected to require visitors show proof of an approved coronavirus vaccine, a negative Covid-19 test, or a document attesting that they recovered from the disease and have Covid antibodies.

Currently, Americans who visit England face stringent requirements in order to do so.  The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union and visitors must get a coronavirus test before flying, take multiple tests within several days of arrival, and observe a ten-day quarantine period, even if vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Europeans can’t yet visit the United States for leisure travel but that is expected to change shortly.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)