Europe reopens steadily its doors to tourism from third countries

The Foreign Affairs Council meeting approved on 20 May 2021 the EU recommendation on non-essential travel to the EU, which aims to open the EU to more tourists from third countries – especially those who are vaccinated and come from a zone considered to be safe by the EU.

The revision is based on the Commission proposal launched on 3 May 2021.

According to the Recommendation, the epidemiological threshold is now 75 cases/100,000 population – which is more flexible than the current threshold of 25 cases. This will open up the possibility for more tourists to travel to the EU without restrictions on testing or quarantine unless the member country requires it.

For vaccinated tourists, the formula adopted is to accept all tourists from third countries who have been vaccinated with two doses and to lift the testing and quarantine measures for them, if they have received a vaccine recognised by the European Agency. Member States will also be able to accept vaccinated tourists who have received a WHO-recognised vaccine if they so wish.

Nevertheless, Member States will continue having the possibility to test and/or quarantine tourists arriving from these countries.

In case variants of the virus will emerge, Member States can launch an Emergency brake’, as well as coordinated restriction measures in case variants of the virus emerge.

HOTREC fully welcomes the Council Recommendation and hopes that the current list of countries whose nationals can come to the EU be extended in the coming days.

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08 Sep
08/09/2023    
09:00 - 13:00
List of Participants Ms. Olga Kefalogianni, Greek Tourism Minister, will join us during the morning for an exchange (timing will be confirmed later) Draft Agenda [...]
Together for EU Tourism (T4T) stakeholder meeting
11/09/2023    
09:00 - 13:00
On 11 September 2023, the European Commission (DG GROW) will organise the first stakeholder event to support the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway for Tourism. This will be a hybrid event, taking place in Brussels and online.
Social Affairs Working Group meeting
12/09/2023    
10:00 - 12:00
On 12 September 2023, HOTREC will organise another meeting of its Social Affairs Working Group.
Members session on HOTREC European elections manifesto
14/09/2023    
10:00 - 12:00
On 14 September 2023, HOTREC will organise a members-only session to discuss the upcoming European Elections (June 2024). 
HOTREC Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee meeting
18/09/2023    
09:30 - 13:00
On the morning of 18 September 2023, HOTREC will organise another meeting of the Sectoral Social Dialogue (SSD) Committee. 
HOTREC Short-Term Rentals (STRs) Working Group meeting
21/09/2023    
10:00 - 11:30
On 21 September 2023, HOTREC will organise another meeting of its Short-Term Rentals Working Group.
Social Dialogue reform - meeting with European Commission
27/09/2023    
09:30 - 12:00
On 27 September 2023, HOTREC, together with other social partners representatives, will meet wit the European Commission to discuss the future organisation of the Social [...]
Working Group on Restaurants, Bars, Cafés & Late-nights: 28 September 2023
28/09/2023    
10:00 - 11:30
New information now available: link to register & draft agenda of the meeting.
Events on 08/09/2023
Events on 11/09/2023
Events on 12/09/2023
Events on 18/09/2023