LATEST TRAVEL ADVICE FOR SPAIN, GREECE, ITALY, PORTUGAL AND MORE

Manchester Evening News 12 May 2020 -Rosaleen Fenton and Jessica Sansome

Holiday's don't seem to feel like a real concept anymore as thousands of people have had their summer plans scuppered.

And travellers are to face further problems following the government's announcement that all those that all international air passengers in the UK must quarantine for 14 days.

In his 'road map' plan to easing lockdown, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that all international arrivals not on the pre-decided "short list" will be required to self-isolate for 14 days in their accommodation.

They will be required to supply contact and accommodation information and will also be "strongly advised" to download and use the NHS contact-tracing app on their phones.

It has also been confirmed on Tuesday (May 12) that all visitors to Spain from abroad must also quarantine for 14 days if they arrive in the country after May 15.

The new Health Ministry order, published in Spain's official gazette, said the goal is to "limit the risks derived from the international traffic of people" during the rollback of the coronavirus lockdown.

Travel agencies and transport companies must inform their customers about the new regulations before they sell their Spain-bound tickets, and airlines need to make sure that passengers fill out a "location card" in case they need to be contacted after their trip.

But what is the likelihood of holiday's this year at other popular destinations?

Here's the latest advice, reported by the Mirror Online.

Cypus - June

© SCU Coral Bay Harbour, Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus has extended a ban on all inbound and outbound flights for another two weeks until May 28.

The government first imposed a flight ban on March 21 as part of a strict lockdown.

Authorities have said that airports could reopen in June - depending on the situation.

Scientists are still trying to come up with ways of safely bringing back travellers to the tourism-reliant country - which is estimated to face losing 60% of its visitors this year.

Officials have previously said, with optimism, that they may reopen their border in June.

Cypriot deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios told The Sun Online that Brits would be welcome to visit once measures are relaxed, adding: "At first the policies shocked our source markets but we thought the earlier we took this strong-handed approach, the earlier we could draft an exit strategy.

"The results have been very positive. And now as part of that exit strategy we are readying for full opening of the island as a tourist destination in mid-June. That is the vision."

Dubai - July

© PA Dubai

Dubai has told how it would like to start letting tourists back into the country as early as July - but has stressed this could change.

Helal Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai's Department of Tourism, said on television: "Many countries remain closed and it's more about the bilateral discussions,

"Is it going to be July when things start slowly opening up?

"Is it going to be September? We just need to make sure we're ready if things come earlier than expected."

And he expressed optimism that the industry will bounce back as it will turn its focus to "health and hygiene."

Greece - July

© Shared Content Unit Kefalonia, Greece

The country acted quickly after recording its first case of coronavirus on February 26.

And in late April, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the plan to relax lockdown measures.

Beaches reopened on May 4 and cafes and restaurants will open on May 1 but with outdoor seating only.

But the country is grappling with what this will mean for tourists.

Mr Theoharis, who is set to hold talks with his EU counterparts, told The Guardian: "If we are to think of the possibility of travelling this year it has to be under specific new rules.

"We have to have new rules for hotels, new rules for beaches, new rules for pools, new rules for breakfast buffets, new rules for tour buses."

Italy - July

© Getty Images/iStockphoto Tuscany, Italy

Italy was forced to impose a strict lockdown, which banned walking or exercising more than 200m away from home, after it was one of the hardest hit countries.

But now, some measures have been relaxed and people can travel for longer distances and visit some relatives.

Bars and restaurants are expect to reopen for dine-in services in June, and now the country is tentatively considering its tourism sector.

Giorgio Palmucci, president of the Italian National Tourist Board, ENIT, told local media that European tourists will be the first international group to be allowed to visit.

He said: "I am ready to sign bilateral treaties between European countries to encourage the arrival of foreigners as well, while waiting for the emergency to be definitively behind us

"We will only start (with tourists) from the European Union, and at the earliest, in July or August.

"The problem is that, unlike other sectors, tourism relies on reservations, so the window of time open for operators will be really tight."

Spain - August

© Getty Images Magaluf beach

Spanish residents saw one of the strictest lockdowns across Europe, with the mandatory closure of all restaurants, and adults only permitted out for essential business.

This is set to continue until May 24, when the state of emergency is due to end.

Speaking earlier on, the tourism minister hinted that there would not be a simple return to normal for tourists.

Spanish tourism minister Reyes Maroto told local newspaper El Pais: "We have to guarantee, when international tourism opens, that the person who comes to Spain is a safe person...

"The issue of borders will be accompanied by the evolution of the health crisis.

"Therefore, I do not have the solution of when [they will be able to open].

"On how you will be able to enjoy our beaches, we are defining different scenarios.

"It is very important that the sanitary recommendations are maintained, we are going to have to internalise what we are already doing now, hand washing, social distancing ... even on the beaches.

"Those patterns will be in our day to day for a time, you cannot take a step back."

Now The Association of Hotel Chains (ACH) and the Hotel Business Federation of Majorca (FEHM) has said it is in talks with a number of international tour operators, including UK firms.

ACH president Gabriel Llobera told the Spanish press: "The objective is to be able to open the hotels in stages and whenever the demand justifies the business effort."

Bulgaria - August

© Manchester Evening News Sofia, Bulgaria

Bulgaria hopes to reopen holiday locations on July 1 - as tourism accounts for at least 12% of the country's GDP.

One week ago, the Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov  said the country would not extend a state of emergency past May 13.

He said: "We are moving towards actions related to the gradual restoration of social and economic life, with a focus on measures that will remain in place."

And National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria leader Valeri Simeonova told The Sun: "We all very much want the tourist season to open as soon as possible. If things turn out to be worse, it may be August."

Turkey - August

© Getty Images Istanbul, Turkey

The country had previously said that they hoped they will be able to see travellers back by July.

But whilst life for residents is slowly returning to normal as measures are relaxed during May, tourists are not yet allowed back in.

And they will need a certificate stating they don't have the virus in order to be allowed into the country, the government has said.

Turkey's Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that European tourists won't be able to enter the country until the end of July at the latest.

He added: "The tourism sector itself has a vital role in terms of returning to normal processes. The importance of caring for our guests in our culture leads us to be ready for the transition to healthy tourism before everyone.

"Our certification programme shall ensure that our guests in Turkey are going to make their holidays safely and hygienic and feel comfortable during their visit."

Portugal - 2021

© scu Algarve, south of Portugal

The country has been praised for its swift response after going into lockdown on March 13 with just 122 recorded cases of coronavirus and no deaths.

Now travel officials have created "clean and safe" badges for companies to increase confidence amongst tourists and workers. 

To be granted this seal, which will be valid for one year, firms must comply with the hygiene requirements set out by the Portuguese authorities

Other regions are expected to follow similar procedures.

But Eliderico Viegas, head of the Association of Algarve Hotels and Tourism Enterprises, said that foreign visitors are expected to start returning to the Algarve in April 2021.

He told  Bloomberg  in a phone interview: "This year, hotels in the Algarve will have to rely on locals for bookings, which is insufficient to keep many of these units open.

"Many hotels won't open this year."

President of the Algarve Tourism Board, João Fernandes, added: "We are committed to developing all the necessary measures, with the ultimate goal of reinforcing security and confidence in the destination."

France - 2021

© Creative Commons - Szczepan Janus Paris, France

Around 89 million tourists visited France in 2019 and the country has been hard hit by the loss of income.

It has left business owners fearing that tourists will not return this year at all, or only in small droves. 

Chateau director Stéphanie Gombert told business mag Forbes: "At the end of May, the government will tell us when we can open again.

"We will open my business in July, perhaps 1-2 rooms at the outset.

"But I doubt for the whole year we will have any international tourists. Maybe some from Switzerland or Belgium."

The country has been extremely strict on relaxing lockdown measures, with even domestic tourism off the cards right now.

From today, French people can leave their homes without authorisation, and travel up to 100 km instead of the current 1 km limit.

And whilst shops have reopened, restaurants and bars aren't will remain closed until at least June - although this hasn't been confirmed.

And the President of the Departmental Tourism Committee, Sylvie Chevallier, has said she foresees difficult days ahead.

In the Forbes interview, she starkly warned: "There are going to be difficult situations for tourism professionals.

"We know that foreigners will not return in 2020."

Last night, it was announced that passengers arriving from France will be exempt from the forthcoming quarantine rules.

But this could be subject to change as the situation develops.