Several countries in the EU may introduce tougher restrictions on entry in the coming days. Portuguese Tourism Secretary Rita Marques expressed this concern during a visit to Sweden.
”The attitude is completely different now when it comes to testing.”
Airline stocks on Wall Street surged on Monday after Anthony Fauci, the top medical adviser in the United States, spoke encouragingly about the effects of the omicron variant. On European exchanges, travel-related stocks such as hotel operator Scandic Hotels in Sweden or travel agency TUI in the United Kingdom performed strongly on Tuesday.
But several challenges may await Europe's travel and tourism industry, warned Rita Marques, who is Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism.
”"I wouldn't be surprised if countries like Spain, Italy or Greece announce that they will require both a vaccine passport and a recent PCR test," she says during a visit to Stockholm on Tuesday, adding that such announcements could come in the coming days.
Portugal has recently introduced PCR requirements for entry and anyone who wants to visit a disco or concert in the country must also have a recent corona test, in addition to proof of vaccination.
During a lunch conversation in Stockholm, she lamented the effects that testing requirements could have on tourism and travel, which is a very important source of income for the country.
”"That's what we live with now. From December 1st, we require a PCR test," she says and continues:
”It's bad, both for the tourists and for Portugal as a nation.”
She also expected several Mediterranean countries to follow suit, adding that restrictions could be introduced very soon.
”The attitude is completely different now when it comes to testing. I think many EU countries are now analyzing different types of requirements. We'll see how it develops,” says Rita Marques, who pointed out that testing in Portugal is comparatively cheap and that the tourist destination Madeira uses simpler rules for visitors.
The UK recently introduced stricter requirements for double PCR tests and isolation upon entry into the country, which entails high costs for tourists. A rapid test, which in 3 hours allows you to avoid the self-isolation regulations in London, currently costs around 400 pounds, or over 4,800 kronor.
On Friday, Ireland introduced COVID testing requirements for all arrivals. And on Tuesday afternoon, Spain introduced PCR requirements for arrivals from high-risk countries.
The Secretary of State's cautious tone was echoed on Tuesday by SAS CEO Anko van der Werff, when the airline presented its traffic figures.
”With new versions of the Covid-19 virus spreading around the world, the future remains uncertain,” van der Werff writes in a comment.
Source: DI.SE
