The world is counting the days to a return to the way things were before the outbreak of covid-19.
Will we ever get back there?
The first steps towards the new normal are taking place around the planet as economies re-open for domestic business and tourism.
Businesses will be grappling with whether they can make social distancing work and those in the tourism sector will be wondering will visitors be prepared to travel in the aftermath of the pandemic?
We’re about to find out.
The Spanish government has announcement that all travel restrictions will be lifted from 1 July, allowing Europeans to take family holidays in Spain during July and August.
The reopening of Spain mirrors similar re-openings announced by Italy, Greece, Portugal and France. Germany is expected to remove all travel restrictions later this week.
While all of these EU countries are opening up their tourism and removing restrictions, Ireland’s position has drawn criticism from Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline.
The carrier reckons what they have described as an ‘ineffective and unpoliceable 2 week quarantine’ is being imposed on inbound visitors from the EU.
‘This quarantine makes no sense when it doesn’t apply to visitors from the UK, which is our EU neighbour with the highest rate of Covid-19 cases and deaths. These further Irish lockdowns make no economic or medical sense when Ireland has one of the better performances of all EU countries in responding to, and defeating, the spread of Covid-19.’
Ryanair’s Group CEO Michael O’Leary said:
“The Irish Government and the Irish people have done a fantastic job over the last 10 weeks, combating the spread of Covid-19 and defeating this virus. The impressive record by our Government and health services is not reflected in our overly stringent lockdown measures. It makes little sense for Ireland to be locking down further at a time when most other EU countries are opening up.
Ryanair is back flying from 1 July, with 1,000 daily low fare flights to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and other holiday destinations.
Will you risk if for a biscuit?🤔
