Katherine Webster  |  December 11, 2020

Category: Covid-19

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Frustrated traveller regarding Britons barred from EU amid COVID-19 restrictions

Britons could be barred from entering the European Union after 1 Jan. thanks to COVID-19 safety restrictions.

When the Brexit transition ends at the first of the year, many people in the U.K. could face some obstacles if they have a 2021 holiday planned in the EU.

No EU Entry for Britons 

As of 1 Jan., Britons will reportedly no longer be able to enter the EU under the COVID-19 restrictions currently in place.

The European Commission has indicated no exemptions will be made, other than for residents of Northern Ireland who wish to travel to the Republic of Ireland.

U.K. residents will be treated the same as those from other countries when it comes to visiting the EU.

The Netherlands on Thursday announced any non-EU citizen wishing to enter the country by sea or air will need to show a negative COVID-19 test result upon entry, The Guardian reported.

Very few countries — ones with low rates of coronavirus — are exempt from rules prohibiting nonessential travelers from outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA). 

In October, EU countries agreed to adopt a proposal by the European Council to allow nonessential travelers from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, The Guardian reported.

The recommendations made by the European Council are based on whether each country’s pandemic situation is better than the EU’s average, according to CNN Travel.

The criteria for those decisions include factors such as the containment measures the country has implemented, such as social distancing, and other factors.

Essential travel is limited to 11 categories of passengers, including healthcare workers, diplomats, those traveling for certain family reasons, and others.

More than 62,000 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the U.K. — reportedly the highest number in Europe.

“The list of countries for which restrictions should be lifted is reviewed and, as the case may be, updated regularly,” a European Council official told CNN, saying it would be premature to “confirm at this stage what the status of a country will be on 1 January.”

According to a BBC report, the EU could see the return of travel corridors like those established over the summer to help travellers get around quarantine with low-infection-rate countries.Silhouette traveller regarding Britons barred from EU over COVID

In the past, the corridors have operated between countries within the EU, such as Spain and France, the BBC reported. This allows individual countries to welcome Britons on holiday and support the country’s hospitality industry.

Minimal Effects Expected 

With the Foreign Office still advising against nonessential travel to most EU nations, the changes on 1 Jan. shouldn’t affect too many travelers, according to The Guardian.

Because of the existing recommendations, few people have booked holidays for early 2021; travel insurance is invalid in most situations.

Those who have travel booked during December will not be affected beyond the existing restrictions and quarantine mandates, The Guardian reported.

February ski getaways look like they may not go on as planned for U.K. residents, as EU ski resorts are closed or only open to locals and don’t appear to be planning to re-open for the February half-term. 

In the event the Foreign Office does change its advice before February and the resorts open, Britons still could be turned away when trying to enter a EU country.

What If I Booked a Holiday?

Britons who have booked travel with a flight and hotel package that is cancelled by the tour operator will be entitled to a full refund.

Those who booked their own trips are unlikely to be covered by their travel insurance, according to The Guardian.

Insurefor.com says customers’ cancellations aren’t covered if they are turned away at a country’s border due to COVID-19 restrictions.

However, travel association ABTA says the European Council’s recommendations are just that, and countries are allowed to implement their own COVID-19 restrictions, including those related to travel and testing, The Guardian reported. Some countries are expected to allow U.K. tourists if the U.K.’s infection or immunization rates remain steady or improve by Easter.

“It is too early to say what restrictions might be in place on 1 January, given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but we know that UK travellers are hugely important to a number of EU destinations, including some winter sun favourites like the Canary Islands and Madeira,” an ABTA spokesperson told The Guardian.

“We expect EU member states that gain enormously from the tourism and air travel from the U.K., and the billions of pounds it generates, to continue to apply their own rules, in order to provide certainty to consumers and families looking to travel to the EU from January onwards,” an Airlines U.K. spokesperson told the BBC.

Did you plan to travel to the EU next year? Let us know how these restrictions will affect you in the comments below.

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