With countries around Europe reducing coronavirus restrictions, opening borders and creating new ways to ensure safe travel for visitors, summer holidays to Europe are becoming a realistic possibility for relief-seeking travelers.
Along with creative concepts such as ‘air bridges,’ ‘travel bubbles’ and ‘holiday corridors’ between countries that have officially come out of the coronavirus crisis (and do not require quarantine for visitors), governments, international institutions and specialized tourism organizations are surging with new initiatives and protocols first to permit the resumption of cross-border vacation travel and then, in a few weeks, of international travel in time for the peak summer season.
Summer holidays to Europe could be back on next month via "air bridges," reports The Sun.
“Many European countries are opening their borders and flights and hotels are also reopening now,” explains the European Best Destinations Organization (EBD) which falls under the European Commission’s EDEN Network ("European Destinations of Excellence"), working to promote sustainable tourism on the continent.
To help travelers who “after weeks of confinement want to travel to Europe but do not know where to travel and what safety measures are being taken in countries and regions,” EBD has unveiled a list of 20 destinations least affected by Covid-19 (defined as up to 600 times fewer Covid-19 cases).
These destinations benefit from proximity to hospitals and have a higher number of hospital beds per inhabitant than the majority of European countries, have implemented very specific protocols concerning hygiene in accommodations, restaurants and shops, and imposed measures such as the changing of air conditioning filters between each traveller stay, availability of masks and social distancing.
Before traveling to any of the beautiful places that made it to the list, EBD recommends:
- Remain vigilant and do not forget the barrier gestures, social distancing, wearing masks when possible and necessary;
- Avoid traveling if your health is poor;
- People over 70, those overweight or who have respiratory problems should be particularly vigilant;
- It is travelers’ responsibility to protect their most fragile loved ones and residents of host countries.
1. Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, one of the world’s least affected by coronavirus countries. Georgia reacted very quickly with measures that kept the epidemic at an extremely low level. There are up to 260 times fewer cases of Covid-19 in Georgia than in the most-affected European countries.
The country is reopening its borders on July 1 and implementing health measures to protect travelers and its citizens for a safe and relaxing holiday.
Tbilisi is an open-minded destination, mixing past, present and future, culture and leisure. More trendy than ever, the city is an ideal destination for culture, gastronomy, diversity and architecture. "Wow" effect is guaranteed.
Magnificent Haussmannian buildings mingle with architecture dating from the Middle Ages, neo-classical, Soviet and extremely modern.
Georgia has more hospital beds per thousand inhabitants than Sweden and Denmark, and Tbilisi is up to five times safer (criminality rate) than Paris or London.
The city has a large offer of tourist apartments, much sought after by travelers now, as well as small, boutique hotels and guesthouses.
“Need an additional argument? A stay in a 5-star hotel or in a private villa in Tbilisi will cost you up to four times less than in the same hotel of the same group in another European capital,” informs EBD.
Read more: www.forbes.com