Germany Wants Global Travel Ban to be Lifted by June 14

Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou

Aiming to discuss lifting coronavirus (Covid-19) travel restrictions with certain countries, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas will hold a video conference call with counterparts from Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Portugal, Malta, Slovenia, and Bulgaria on Monday.

Germany is aiming for the worldwide travel ban to be lifted on June 14 and replaced by a travel advisory that would inform of which destinations were open to visitors and what Covid-19 precautionary measures were in place.

“It would be irresponsible to say that the same rules apply everywhere,” he said in a recent interview to Germany’s ARD broadcaster, adding that “the situation is different even within the same country”.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. Photo Source: heiko-maas.de

 With regard to Greece, Maas referred to the country’s “great success in the fight against the pandemic” and expressed his hope for a quick tourism recovery.

“It would be nice if it were possible to have a summer vacation in Greece – and on Crete,” Maas said, adding however that the situation will not be the same this year as before and that there will be restrictions in place.

Maas went on to add that there would be no mass tourism, spaces would be differently distributed and not all shops, venues and hotels would be open.

The Acropolis, Athens

Referring to the possibility of other European destinations opening up to tourists this summer, Maas said that he hoped the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic would soon allow travel to resume in full across Europe, adding however, that there still are issues that must be addressed including quarantine measures and free movement controls.

Meanwhile, in relevant news, top German media including Spiegel Online, Handelsblatt, and Die Welt all featured stories on Greek summer and Greece opening up its beaches over the weekend.