EU border app helps tourists plan in age of virus
CGTN
Europe;
Visitors sit in bars in an area known as Little Venice on the Greek island of Mykonos. /AP

Visitors sit in bars in an area known as Little Venice on the Greek island of Mykonos. /AP

Europe is taking a big step toward a new normality as many countries open borders to fellow Europeans after three months of coronavirus lockdowns, but even though Europeans love their summer vacations, it's not clear how many are ready to travel again.

Can I go on holiday to Spain? Will I face quarantine? Have the museums and restaurants reopened yet?

As European Union member states accelerate the reopening of their borders, an official European Union website began taking tourists' questions on Monday.

On "Re-open EU" or reopen.europa.eu, travellers can enter the name of the country they hope to visit and find out what the rules are in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown.

The site is available in 24 languages and so far covers only the 27 European Union member states – there is no information for Britain or the four non-EU members of the Schengen travel zone.  

A resident of France, for example, can consult the site to find out that high speed rail links to Luxembourg are being restored progressively and are at 60 percent of normal.

If one wishes to go to Austria, a face mask is required on the train, and before flying home to France he or she will need to provide a statement of honor that they have no coronavirus symptoms.

The site and an eventual app will be updated as the situation evolves.

A visitor watches the sunset at a bar in an area known as Little Venice in the main town of the island of Mykonos, Greece. /AP

A visitor watches the sunset at a bar in an area known as Little Venice in the main town of the island of Mykonos, Greece. /AP

Most EU countries reopened their internal borders within the block on Monday, but social distancing rules vary widely across the block and some members continue to restrict arrivals from high-risk areas.   

Tourists from the U.S., Asia, Latin America and the Middle East will just have to wait for now. Europe is expected to start opening up to some visitors from elsewhere next month, but details remain unclear.

(With input from AFP)