Pining for a chilled-out week by the beach? As countries around the world continue to lift travel restrictions and reopen their borders, many big-hitting balmy destinations appear increasingly eager to welcome tourists again. Which is very good news indeed for your much-delayed 2020 getaway plans.
The next month sees several tourist hotspots around the world reopen to international visitors. But as you might expect, not all nationalities will be admitted, and there may be further caveats, from mandatory testing to curbs on where you can actually travel while you’re there. Want to know where you can go this August? Here’s what we know.
From tomorrow (August 1), the Seychelles will restart commercial flights, with visitors from countries classified as ‘low’ and ‘medium risk’ set to be allowed in.
‘Low risk’ countries include China, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Norway and Thailand. Travellers from these countries will need to provide a negative PCR test from within 72 hours of arrival, or an antigen test.
‘Medium risk’ countries include Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. Visitors from these countries will have to provide a negative PCR test result from within the past three days.
Kenya is reopening tomorrow too. Tourists will have to bring a negative PCR test result from within the past seven days, while ‘passenger locator cards’ will be used to trace all travellers entering the country in the event of an outbreak. There will also be temperature checks at the airport. The country hasn’t confirmed whether travellers from only certain countries will be allowed in.
Starting tomorrow, Costa Rica will also welcome tourists from the EU, Canada and the UK. US travellers are still banned. Before entering the country, you’ll have to fill out this form, and on arrival, provide a negative PCR test result from within the past 48 hours.
Sri Lanka was due to welcome international visitors again from tomorrow, but has delayed its reopening for at least two weeks until August 14 at the earliest. Travellers from all countries are set to be allowed in – as long they provide a negative test result from the past three days (and agree to have another test on arrival).
As of July 1, all travellers have been allowed to stay in limited ‘approved’ resorts in Cuba. But in late August, the country plans to reopen the rest of its major airports and destinations too. All arrivals will be tested for free at the airport and will be required to quarantine at their hotel for 24 hours while awaiting the results. There will likely still be some restrictions on where you can actually travel once you’re there.
So, yet again, your 2020 holiday horizons have widened. Fully insured and prepared to take all the risks involved in international travel right now? These idyllic, sun-splashed destinations are basically screaming out for you to drop everything and jump on that next flight outta there.
Remember, many countries are still warning against all non-essential travel and some are quarantining all overseas arrivals, including their own returning citizens. Check all the relevant restrictions before you think about travelling.
Where can you travel right now? Here’s what you need to know.