Europe braces for summer tourism revival, borders reopen

As the summer season approaches, European tourist hotspots have, one after another, eased travel restrictions in a bid to revive a tourism industry battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy thirsts for foreign tourists

Italy reopened to travelers from Europe on Wednesday, three months after going into coronavirus lockdown. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the country was clearly on the mend, adding that latest contagion data was "encouraging."

"There's enthusiasm in the air, a renewed sociability. We deserve to smile, to be cheerful, after weeks of great sacrifice," he said, adding the time had come to lure tourists back.

Austria lifts border checks with all neighbors but Italy

Austria is lifting coronavirus-related border restrictions including quarantines for visitors from all neighboring countries except Italy as of Thursday, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Germany to ease travel ban from mid-June

Germany will lift a travel ban for European Union member states plus Britain, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from June 15 as long as there are no entry bans or large-scale lockdowns in those countries, the Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

Spain to open up to some foreign tourism from late June

Spain is working on plans to gradually open its borders to tourists from countries deemed more secure in the fight against the coronavirus, possibly starting from June 22, the tourism ministry said on Wednesday.

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