Coronavirus: Public information & Resources

Last updated 23 February 2021 | UK Government road map to lifting restrictions in England during Spring/Summer 2021 added to United Kingdom section. International travel for tourism purposes from/to England is envisaged to restart from no earlier than 17 May 2021.

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  • For an overview of domestic and cross-border travel allowed/restricted and services open in destination:
    Re-Open EU for EU27 and EFTA countries
    United Kingdom
    IATA for countries worldwide
    Government webpages should also be monitored as the final decision on border entry and issuing travel advisories/warnings remain matters of national competence (EEA, Switzerland, UK and some long haul source markets for Europe can be found below).
  • Information on the Package Travel Directive can be found in the European Union section.
  • Trade association and business operational guidelines to take into account specific circumstances can be found in our Operational Guidelines page (links to overall government health guidelines below) 
  • ETOA’s webinar programme can be found in our Coronavirus Hub.
  • For opinion and research please see our Insight hub.

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ETOA is working hard to ensure European tourism receives the attention it needs during the crisis, to support our members day-to-day, to share information and resources, and to work towards a strong recovery. This page is updated as destinations and government bodies issue new information.

We recognise that the immediate priority is commercial survival so that travel and tourism can play a vital part in the recovery, adding jobs to the economy faster than any other sector. That requires urgent and continued government help. Next, business needs information so it can plan and prioritise effectively.

Tourism in Europe will survive and thrive, and it may be very different. Recovery will take place with renewed respect for how interdependent our world has become. How we look after and share what we most value – communities, cities, countryside and culture – will drive policy, and stimulate new products and services.

Policy makers and the private sector must collaborate to build a resilient and sustainable future for the industry. ETOA and its members will be at the heart of it.

What are we doing?

PR and Lobbying at EU and national level for urgent financial support

      • Cash-flow is King: flexibility needed to help business cope
      • Crisis support must be simple to access and delivered quickly
      • Initiatives to stimulate recovery must be well-targeted to deliver maximum impact
      • ETOA is regularly asked for comment and expert insight

Industry engagement

      • We hold frequent meetings via video-conference with representative groups of members in various destinations and contact members direct.
      • We maintain dialogue with policy makers, DMOs and key attractions, including those holding large pre-payments.
      • We aggregate actual business impact and current priorities per market to support targeted lobbying activity.
      • We stay in close touch with our network in origin markets, monitoring for signs of recovery and consumer trends.

Information and resources

      • We are available for guidance and support. If we don’t have the answer we may know someone who does. Please email coronavirus@etoa.org to request a call-back.
      • We have a programme of webinars focusing on crisis impact, support and recovery plans for origin markets and destinations.
      • We contribute member insight and market intelligence to a range of webinars and policy meetings with industry stakeholders and other institutions.
      • We monitor official information and resources and publish links to government financial support, travel restrictions and health information (see below).

Multinational Bodies and Associations

European Union

European Council and European Commission homepages on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic

Travel information 

  • Re-Open EU map for the latest information on domestic and cross-border travel allowed/restricted, services open in destination (e.g. attractions, hospitality) and health and safety guidance provided by EU27 and EFTA member states:
    • Schengen area:
      • EU – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia,  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
      • Non-EU – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
    • EU non-Schengen:
      •  Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania (apply Schengen rules at their external border for non-EU nationals but time in these countries does not count towards time in Schengen area)
      •  Ireland
  • Travel to the EU from non-EU countries 
    • Since 1 July 2020 the European Council has recommended to member states that travel restrictions should be lifted for non-essential travel from some non-EU countries. The recommended list is reviewed fortnightly and can be found on the European Council’s travel and transport page and on the Re-Open EU map. The UK will be added to the review list from 1 January 2021 as the Brexit transition period will have ended.
    • The EU recommend exemptions to the restrictions on travel to the EU, namely travel for essential reasons, non-EU nationals long term resident in the EU and passengers in transit. Travel for tourism purposes is not considered.
    • Please note, not all EU member states are adopting this recommendation in full and final decision on border entry remains a matter of national competence. Please see Re-Open EU map and IATA map for guidance and also check national government webpages.


Package Travel and Passenger rights


European Commission strategy and guidelines


European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

OECD

United Nations

International Air Transport Association (IATA)

Border restrictions map per country and which persons are permitted to enter.

NECSTouR

Homepage on COVID-19 including examples of good practice by tourism boards

Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO)

European destinations and source markets

Austria

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Belgium

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Bulgaria

Croatia

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Cyprus

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Denmark

Tourism Boards and Agencies on COVID-19

Finland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

France

National

Regional

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Greece

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Hungary

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Iceland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Ireland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Italy

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

ETOA referral

  • ETOA’s Italian lawyer can support member companies if they have queries:  Avv. Dino Costanza

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Malta

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Norway

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Poland

Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Romania

Slovakia

Sweden

United Kingdom

Road maps

  • England: UK Government road map published on lifting restrictions. Summary diagram on pages 43-44.
    • Key points:
      – No regional variation in lifting restrictions
      – International travel for tourism purposes from/to England is envisaged to restart from no earlier than 17 May in Step 3 (more information on border protocols to be known after 12 April).
      – Rule of 6 remains in Step 3. All restrictions envisaged to be lifted across England from no earlier than 21 June in Step 4.


Business Support 

Business Financial Support

  • Overview of UK Government business financial support measures (including self-employed). A support finder tool has also been published here. The following measures apply to businesses based throughout the UK:
    • Bounce Back Loan Scheme of up to 25% of SME’s turnover, capped at £50,000. The Government will provide a 100% guarantee and cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees (interest rate 2.5% per year after). Application process open until 31 March 2021.
    • Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) of up to £5 million (for SMEs with an annual turnover of up to £45 million). The Government will provide a 80% guarantee and cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees. Application process open until 31 March 2021.
    • Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) for businesses with an annual turnover of over £45 million can apply for up to 25% of annual turnover, capped at £200 million. The Government will provide a 80% guarantee. Application process open until 31 March 2021.
    • Covid Corporate Financing Facility (for large businesses with a good credit rating) run by the Bank of England. Application process for new businesses open until 30 December 2020.
    • Job Retention Scheme in operation until 30 April 2021 where the Government through HMRC will reimburse up to 80% of a ‘furloughed’ employee’s gross wages capped at £2,500 per month. Part time working is allowed for furloughed workers.
    • Self-employment income support scheme where the Government through HMRC will provide a third grant worth 80% of 3 months average trading profits up to £7,500. Application process open from 30 November 2020.


Tourism Boards on COVID-19

Long-haul source markets for Europe

India

USA

Disclaimer: While best efforts have been made to verify the accuracy of the information, the information displayed on this page should be used as guidance only.

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