European countries plan to re-open for tourism—won't invite Sweden or UK due to high coronavirus stats

by: Josh Stewart Jun 5, 2020

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After battling COVID-19 for the majority of the spring, European countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway are on the verge of allowing tourists again. However, countries that are yet to effectively control the disease, such a the UK and Sweden, may not be getting the invite.

Spain is set to re-open for tourism without a quarantine period in July, but María Reyes Moroto, the country’s tourism minister has gone on record saying that tourists from the UK aren’t yet permitted, noting that “…British data still has to improve, because it’s important to ensure that the person comes well and then returns well.”

The Netherlands plans to allow tourism starting on June 15, but the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte laid it out pretty plainly this week, stating that “The message is, we do not want British people and Swedes here at the moment,” continuing, “If they do come, they will have to go into quarantine for two weeks.”

The Swedes continue to be singled out, even by their nordic neighbors, Denmark and Norway, who are set to re-initiate tourism between themselves, while leaving Sweden the odd-man out. The decision comes largely as a result of Sweden not imposing a lockdown during their COVID-19 outbreak. Their death toll has now surpassed 4,000, the most amongst Scandinan countries by a significant amount. Although the United States isn’t named amongst these bans, Americans won’t be having any European getaways too soon, as President Trump’s travel ban remains in effect.

Via: DutchNews.nl, The Guardian, BBC