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
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- 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
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Industry engagement
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- 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.
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Information and resources
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- 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).
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Multinational Bodies and Associations
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
- Schengen area:
- Travel within the Schengen area
- Temporary border controls between Schengen countries
- 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
- 31.07.20: FAQs on passenger rights and package travel
- 13.05.20: Recommendation on issuing of vouchers as a result of cancelled package travel and transport services which aims to make vouchers an attractive alternative to cash reimbursement for consumers
- 19.03.20: Information on application of the Package Travel Directive (PTD) (2015/2302/EU) covering both EU travellers’ and operators’ cancellation rights.
- 17.03.20: Guidelines on EU transport passenger rights.
European Commission strategy and guidelines
- Commission strategy for recovery in 2020 and beyond
- Guidance to member states on operation of transport services
- Guidance to member states on developing health protocols for hospitality establishments
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- EEA and UK ‘Traffic light’ maps (updated weekly on Thursday) to support European Council recommendation on coordinating travel restrictions by member states.
- Air travel guidelines with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- 02.12.20: Guidelines for COVID-19 testing and quarantine of air travellers – Addendum to the Aviation Safety Protocol
- 01.07.20: Aviation Safety Protocol
- Homepage on COVID-19
- 02.06.20: COVID-19: Tourism Policy Responses: examples of government tourism policy and industry impact
- UNWTO
- 12.05.20: Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package containing guidance on implementing the recommendations from the 1 April report below
- 01.04.20: Recommendations for governments and the private sector to mitigate the impact and prepare for recovery from COVID-19
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
- Updated daily: Cases by country
- 07.04.20 Guidelines for catering businesses
- 31.03.20 Guidelines for accommodation businesses
- International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
- 01.06.20 ICAO Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) issue health guidelines for airlines and airports
Border restrictions map per country and which persons are permitted to enter.
- Homepage on COVID-19
- Overview (map) on museums opening/closure per country
European destinations and source markets
- Government department for Tourism on COVID-19 (includes overview of travel restrictions, business support and government health guidelines and regulations)
- Government department for Economic Affairs on COVID-19 support measures for businesses
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection on inbound travel to Austria
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes government health guidelines and regulations)
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel (passenger locator form)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
- Government department for Tourism on COVID-19 (includes government health guidelines and regulations)
- Government financial support measures for tourism businesses
- Institute of Public Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on outbound travel
- Government information on inbound travel to Croatia (passenger locator form)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government financial support measures for businesses
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Interior Affairs on inbound travel to Czech Republic
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes health advice)
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage and page on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Business support guidance
- Nordic Council overview of official information for Nordic countries on COVID-19
Tourism Boards and Agencies on COVID-19
- Visit Denmark
- Copenhagen Capacity [English-language summary of all government financial relief schemes]
- Copenhagen
- Greenland, The Faroe Islands
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Institute for Health
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border-travel
- Government department for Economic Affairs on COVID-19 (includes information on financial support for business)
- Nordic Council overview of official information for Nordic countries on COVID-19
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
National
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Institute of Public Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Education on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- 14.05.20: Government tourism recovery plan includes details of new financial support and launch of support website for tourism businesses as well as proposed re-opening time frame.
Regional
- Ile de France on COVID-19
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Atout France – map monitoring international markets and information on order 25.03.20 allowing tourism professionals in France to issue a credit note instead of a refund temporarily.
- Brittany, Deauville, Nantes, Paris Region
- Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (OTCP) includes list of events postponed/cancelled in Paris
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Robert Koch Institut (division in the Ministry of Health) on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Details on grant for German coach operators (application process open until 30 September 2020)
Tourism Associations on COVID-19
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
- Nordic Council overview of official information for Nordic countries on COVID-19
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes health advice)
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel (includes “green list” where travellers arriving into Ireland from these countries do not have to quarantine). A separate “travel corridor” list applies for Northern Ireland.
- Government financial support measures for business (includes links to apply)
- For Northern Ireland, see United Kingdom
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Fáilte Ireland (includes operational guidelines on re-opening and Safety Charter)
- For Tourism Northern Ireland, see United Kingdom
- Tourism Ireland
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government Civil Protection department emergency page
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel (passenger locator form)
- Government departments for Finance and Economic Development (for information on financial support measures for business) – Both departments include information on Relaunch Decree 19 May 2020 (full and summary) and Care Decree 17 March 2020 (full and summary which includes the SME Guarantee Fund)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
ETOA referral
- ETOA’s Italian lawyer can support member companies if they have queries: Avv. Dino Costanza
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes support for business)
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on COVID-19
- Government department for Finance on COVID-19
- Additional information on Government financial support measures for business
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes support for business)
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Additional information on Government financial support measures for business.
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government Homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Institute of Public Health on COVID-19
- Government travel advice on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Nordic Council overview of official information for Nordic countries on COVID-19
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government travel advice on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Additional information on Government financial support measures for business (Anti-crisis shield)
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Visit Portugal (includes Clean and Safe initiative)
- Government homepage on COVID-19 and further information here
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government department for Finance (for information on financial support measures for business)
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- National Institute of Public Health on COVID-19
- Government travel advice on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
National
- Government homepage
- Government department for Health on COVID-19 and health guidance for tourism businesses
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for tourism businesses and here (chapters 3 and 5)
Regional
Catalonia:
- Generalitat de Catalonia on COVID-19 and support for tourism industry
- Ajuntament de Barcelona on COVID-19 (includes the local lockdown measures announced by the Generalitat de Catalonia on 17 July)
- Barcelona Public Health Agency on COVID-19
- Barcelona Activa – government financial support measures for business and information on flexible tax collection measures
- Sagrada Família
Granada: Alhambra
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- National Public Health Authority on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Nordic Council overview of official information for Nordic countries on COVID-19
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government department for Foreign Affairs on cross-border travel
- Government financial support measures for business
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- My Switzerland (includes Clean and Safe initiative)
- Basel, Bern, Interlaken, Jungfrau Region, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Ticino, Zurich
- UK Government homepage on COVID-19 (includes local restrictions in England and what you can and can’t do in England)
- ‘Rule of Six’ affecting group tours (ETOA Sep interim update)
- UK Government travel advice on UK outbound travel
- UK Government entering the UK (includes passenger locator form)
- Devolved nations government homepage on COVID-19:
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland (includes local restrictions)
- Wales (includes local restrictions and FAQs); bulletin for tourism industry
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.
- Key points:
Business Support
- 28.08.20: Competition and Market Authority guidance on consumer contracts, cancellation and refunds
- UK Government information for business
- Operating guidelines in England (includes offices, hospitality re-opening, transport operators and visitor economy)
- Guidance for accommodation providers in England on guests displaying symptoms/self-isolating
- Guidance collecting customer details in England
- Acas support for UK employers and employees on employment rights
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.
- Some aspects of business support are devolved such as in the case of business rates relief and grant funds.
– England – further information from Local Government Association which includes a joint letter from ETOA and other industry associations to the UK Chancellor.
– Northern Ireland
– Scotland
– Wales
Tourism Boards on COVID-19
- Visit Britain (includes government updates affecting tourism industry and ‘We’re Good to Go’ initiative)
- Visit England – Cotswolds, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, South Warwickshire, Wiltshire, York, Yorkshire
- Isle of Man
- Tourism Northern Ireland – Armagh, Belfast, Mourne Mountains
- Visit Scotland
- Visit Wales
Long-haul source markets for Europe
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government travel advice for overseas travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (including health advice)
- Government travel advice for overseas travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Government homepage on COVID-19 (including health advice)
- Government department for Foreign Affairs for overseas travel advice
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19
- Government travel advice for overseas travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Government homepage on COVID-19
- Government department for Health on COVID-19 related to travel
- Government travel advice for overseas travel
- Government financial support measures for business
- Additional information from the United States Tour Operations Association (USTOA) on business support and other resources
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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