USA considers opening up to European tourists

It is time to do it.

Based on what has happened between the U.K. and the rest of Europe, it’s a dreadful idea. Counties have opened and closed so often that it’s difficult keeping up to date.

The Balearics went onto our green list (no quarantine) 2 weeks ago, so many tour operators and airlines rapidly increased their supply to match the demand. Now they are back to amber.

Until infection rates start falling in Europe, it would be safer to hold out for a little longer. According to a leading U.K. health expert, a double vaccinated 65 year old is still more likely to die from Covid than a 30 year old.

There aren't enough rental cars to satisfy domestic consumption (at least at anything resembling competitive rates), let alone foreign tourists. Most tourists who want to see the over subscribed national and state parks will need a rental car, and the situation right now is totally inadequate. Most Europeans I know, including my own family, don't do bus/guided tours - they rent cars to see other countries on their own.

Exhibit A - a Canadian tourist who wants to visit but has quickly figured out it's unworkable and cost prohibitive right now, at least
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/car-rental-blues-u-s-southwest

Open up to vaccinations persons.

How is the US supposed to open up to vaccinated persons when the Astra Zeneca vaccine isn't even approved here? And how would they vet that someone is vaccinated? Green Passport QR code (that's a joke)? Each passenger would probably have to be tested upon entry and maybe even a few days later. I wish the US would put some money into its crumbling infrastructure, beef up the rental car supply (that will take multiple months), hire enough restaurant staff to meet current demand, and get public transit going on a regular schedule before they invite visitors. There is ample evidence just based on the domestic travel market this summer that we are not ready for prime time.

How is the US supposed to open up to vaccinated persons when the Astra Zeneca vaccine isn't even approved here? And how would they vet that someone is vaccinated? Green Passport QR code (that's a joke)? Each passenger would probably have to be tested upon entry and maybe even a few days later. I wish the US would put some money into its crumbling infrastructure, beef up the rental car supply (that will take multiple months), hire enough restaurant staff to meet current demand, and get public transit going on a regular schedule before they invite visitors.

For those of this living in Europe (and especially here in the NL where we are spiking these past few weeks). let me take the same argument and say, "How is the EU supposed to open up to vaccinated or unvaccinated Americans when the... "

Well, you get the idea.

RnR, there is one major difference between Europe and the US: the availability of subways and trains. These are not options in most of the US. I will say that as long as we drive our own car , we have not experienced major travel issues in the US. I will admit that we don't eat out a lot.

RnR, there is one major difference between Europe and the US: the availability of subways and trains. These are not options in most of the US. I will say that as long as we drive our own car, we have not experienced major travel issues in the US. I will admit that we don't eat out a lot.

@cala, that is a difference as compared to most parts of the USA - from our experiences, there are many other differences. Yet, in terms of COVID, the biggest difference from my vaccinated Dutch friends' perspective is... they cannot go to the USA but vaccinated & unvaccinated Americans can come to their hometown. You could argue that the USA is rated as "green" and the Dutch are again under "red" status, but my Dutch friends argue that their local percentage of vaccination levels is higher when compared to many states & municipalities in the USA. It seems when we meet for coffee, drinks, or dinner, we have this frank, direct, and passionate discussion at least once a week.

For many of them, they're not interested in seeing national parks, DisneyWorld, renting cars, or dining out - they simply want to go see their family and friends who live in the USA who they have not seen for almost two years (some who are aged, infirmed, or perhaps not financially able to travel to Europe). Almost all the folks I talk with are fully vaccinated (granted, some - like me - are with the Astra Zeneca jab), and they understand they would have to take a COVID test to enter the USA (under the current rules). But first, they have to be allowed to travel to the USA.

Many of them are disappointed that the USA has not reciprocated to the EU position of border openings. But they are also quite frustrated with their government for "opening the doors" to unvaccinated visitors with no COVID testing requirements. After 16 months of restrictions, no one wants to head back there again. Yet, this week, businesses are again facing COVID challenges as a new wave of infections sweeps across the country. They don't blame the current spike on travelers... but with the possibility of unvaccinated, untested visitors arriving daily since June 24, it's a future concern - and one with no system of restraint, except shutting down again.

The EU does have a tracking system; most Dutch who want to travel have logged on to the CoronaCheck App (The Dutch version of the EU Digital COVID Certificate). We've used it at a couple of local functions. In a few weeks, if we're still allowed to travel outside the NL, we'll be testing it in Portugal (we hope).

I agree with geovagriffith ---> Open the USA up to vaccinated AND tested travelers from the EU. In addition, until the Dutch COVID infection numbers decrease given the current NL spike, reinstate the vaccination requirements and testing procedures for all travelers, including Americans. Just because you come from a "green country": doesn't mean you come from a "green" area. I am not sure why an EU citizen living in a "green" country has to have an EU Digital COVID Certificate to go to another EU country... but a USA citizen can come to some countries - like the Netherlands - without proof of vaccination or testing? Hard to win that argument with the locals...

I still think we should have a Covid vaccination passport scheme. And for those who say it's proletarian, it wasn't too long ago that everyone needed vaccination to go to Europe.

I still think we ( i.e. USA) should have a Covid vaccination passport scheme.

I suspect the logistical hurdles of consolidating at least 50 different record systems into a unified system that foreign countries would find acceptable and could access/read, would take longer than covid will be a problem.

why are they:

President Biden said ....

Angela was visiting from Berlin...

are they not of equivalent rank, and do they not both deserve the same respect? I'm sure it isn't a misogynistic comment, more likely wishing, consciously or unconsciously, to demonstrate the innate superiority of the Americans. Either way, if it were I, I would try to give them equivalence...

The problem is this NIgel....If I mention Boris or Angela most people know who I am talking about. If I mention "Joe" it is just too generic and most people won't automatically register it as Biden.

@RnR: EXACTLY to everything you said!! Countries should require proof of vaccination ... or if not vaccinated, at least require onerous testing regimens. A neighbor told me the other day that her 20-something son and fiancee were traveling in Europe for 6 weeks (I don't remember all the spots, but I remember that she mentioned Croatia a few times) and I couldn't help but wonder: Dear lord, please don't tell me they're traveling all over without being vaccinated???!

I think it’s one thing for the “infrastructure” not to be ready for European tourists, but it’s quite another that people in Europe who have families or family members in the States can’t go visit them. (Yes, I realize the States-origin folks can now go to Europe, but depending on various family situations, it may be preferable for the Europe-based members to be able to visit their family members based in America.)

I see a LOT of this — people are REALLY tired of not being able to go see family members in the U.S. when any American can come here.

I took this thread to be strictly about tourists, not family reunification (I understand that angle too as my family lives in Europe). Unce you get into family reunification, then all sorts of emotions/ rationales/ moral arguments get involved which are different from pure tourism. That's why I kept my comments to the infrastructure aspects (and what's missing now for domestic travelers as well).

One of the big issues on reciprocity has been Astra Zeneca’s decision not to file for EUA in the US but wait to file for full approval, yet I don’t know if they have even done this yet. Since many in Europe/UK got the AZ jab that’s become a thorny issue. However, seems as if anyone who has gotten vaccinated with any of the other vaccines approved in the US should easily be able to travel here. EU doesn’t accept people vaccinated with non-approved vaccines either without testing and quarantine. Maybe some compromise could work until Astra Zeneca decides it’s going to file for approval.

However, seems as if anyone who has gotten vaccinated with any of the
other vaccines approved in the US should easily be able to travel
here.

Currently, an American living in - or traveling from - Europe can travel to the USA and there are no questions as to which vaccine you have, or if you've even been vaccinated. You simply have to provide proof of a timely negative COVID test to get into the USA. My wife and I have done it, as have many friends. So, why would it matter what vaccine an EU citizen was given if it's not currently a requirement for entry in the USA? Shouldn't their negative COVID test be enough to gain entry - no different than how returning Americans are treated? (BTW, we both received two Astra Zeneca jabs).

EU doesn’t accept people vaccinated with non-approved vaccines either
without testing and quarantine.

Unfortunately, not true. Currently, the Netherlands - God bless them - are allowing US citizens into their country without proof of ANY vaccination, and no COVID test or quarantine is required. (My wife just returned two days ago from Atlanta under no restrictions). Given the current COVID spike here in the last three weeks, we believe - and hope - that some entry restrictions will return.