![]() | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information.(June 2022) |
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COVID-19 pandemic |
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and territories imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other travel restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas. [1] Some countries and territories imposed global restrictions that apply to all foreign countries and territories, or prevented their own citizens from travelling overseas. [2]
Travel restrictions reduced the spread of the virus. However, because they were implemented after community transmission had begun in several countries around the globe, they produced only a modest reduction in the total number of infections. Travel restrictions may be most important at the start and end of a pandemic. [3]
The travel restrictions brought a significant economic cost to the global tourism industry through lost income and social impacts on people who were unable to travel internationally. After travel bans lifted, global tourism saw a return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. [4] However, some travel, especially business travel, may decrease in the long-term as lower cost alternatives, such as teleconferencing and virtual events have gained preferrence in the professional world. [5] Some countries with large domestic markets, such as the United States, were able to see a faster recovery from increased domestic travel. [6]
A study in Science found that travel restrictions could delay the initial arrival of COVID-19 in a country but had only modest overall effects unless combined with infection prevention and control measures to significantly reduce transmission. [7] [8] [9] These findings are consistent with prior research on influenza and other communicable diseases. [7] [8] [9] Travel bans may be most effective for isolated locations, such as small island nations. [9]
Researchers came to the conclusion that "travel restrictions are most useful in the early and late phase of an epidemic" and "restrictions of travel from Wuhan unfortunately came too late". [10]
Together with a decreased willingness to travel, the restrictions have had a negative economic and social impact on the travel sector in their regions. [11] During the pandemic, "slow travel" grew in popularity as tourists opted to avoid crowded destinations, instead taking their time to explore less well-known locations. [12] [13]
A possible long-term impact has been a decline of business travel and international conferencing, and the rise of their virtual, online equivalents. [14] Concerns have been raised over the effectiveness of travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. [15]
Many tourism venues, including museums, visitor centers, restaurants, and hotels, required COVID-19 vaccination for their staff or visitors, designating them as "vaccinated venues". [16] Research indicates that tourists have differing beliefs about the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, which influence their willingness to visit or use these venues. [16]
Just under a quarter of all countries (45) have implemented measures that affect citizens of, or recent travellers to, a particular country or set of countries. Many of these countries later expanded their restrictions, with some later implementing global restrictions.
Earlier before the announcement of the pandemic by the World Health Organization, the European Union rejected the idea of suspending the Schengen free travel zone and introducing border controls with Italy, [85] a decision which has been criticised by some European politicians. [86] [87] After some EU member states announced complete closure of their national borders to foreign nationals in March 2020, [88] the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "Certain controls may be justified, but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organization." [89] A few days later the EU closed its external borders. [90]
The European Council agreed on 17 March 2020 to ban incoming travel other than citizens from countries in the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland and United Kingdom, long-term residents and people with long-term visa or residence permits, family members of EU and EEA citizens, medical personnel and people responsible for transport of goods for 30 days. [90] [91] [92] Each country had to implement the decision on the national level. Ireland choose to opt out from the decision due to the Common Travel Area. The agreement was to close borders for 30 days starting at noon on 17 March, though enforcement did not begin immediately as planned. [93] By the end of March, all EU member states (except Ireland) and all associated Schengen states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) had introduced the travel restriction. [94] The restriction was later repeatedly prolonged until 30 June. [95] [96] [97] These restrictions did not only refer to travel between countries from March to June. In Spain, for example, mobility had been restricted and public transport had been greatly affected by the lockdowns imposed by the government and only essential travels had been allowed under severe restrictions. [98] Some member states went further and also prohibited EU and EEA citizens from entering, unless they are permanently living in the country or transiting to their home country, which was generally still possible. On 1 July 2020, the global travel ban was replaced by non-global travel ban. [99] The EU Council recommended a gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on travel into the EU (including Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) from 1 July 2020. The European Council had adopted a Recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU on 30 June. Travel restrictions were lifted for countries listed in the recommendation. The list was updated, in principle, every two weeks. Several countries (Algeria, Canada, Georgia, Jordan, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia and Uruguay) have been removed from the EU designated COVID-19 safe countries list since it was introduced on 30 June 2020, and no new country was ever added to that list. As of 16 December 2020, the Safe Countries list included Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. [100] Traveling citizens from China will be allowed entry based on the re-opening of its borders to European travelers. [101] British nationals were no longer considered EU citizens starting 1 January 2021 and were subject to each member state's travel restriction on non-EU nationals. For the purpose of the recommendation residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican were also considered EU residents. The recommendation was not a legally binding instrument and the member states were responsible for implementing it. [99]
On 28 January 2021, the European Union reinstated a travel ban from Japan due to an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, removing Japan from the EU's safe countries list. [102] The following countries were listed as safe countries amidst the pandemic – Australia, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Thailand. The European Council suggested member states to gradually remove restrictions for China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity. [103]
A majority of countries are open for tourism. Some entry restrictions may be in place, such as requiring a PCR test or proof of vaccination.
Immediate family members cannot travel by themselves. They must travel with the New Zealand citizen or resident family member on the same flight to New Zealand.
'Foreign nationals other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have traveled in China in the last 14 days will be denied entry into United States,' Azar said.
... effective February 2.