loacker_thegreat

You are derailing the thread guys. This is not a Train vs Plane debate.

But anyway, you're welcome.

progol

Once you’ve posted, it’s out of your hands! If it turns into a train vs plane discussion, so be it.

menachem

Exactly. Please stay home then as well and check your privilege and your impact as a global traveler pleasure

menachem

But there is a need to take personal responsibility for the measure in which you'll be contributing to a likely 2nd wave of infections and deaths.

menachem

One of their measures (Senegal's was) will probably be to prevent Americans and Europeans, who come from hotspots, entering the country.

menachem

But you'll travel to international airports presumably. So there's your answer.
I suggest people stop elective global air travel yes. For a number of reasons.

BDKR

"Please stay home then as well and check your privilege and your impact as a global traveler pleasure"

Climate change affects far more people than this virus and for long term, unlike the virus, and it has a much worse impact than the virus.

We should stop all modes of travelling which is not sustainable. Stop flying, sell your car(we know the electric cars are not a solution), stop taking cruises. You can still travel by walking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, sailing, dog sledding, horse/camel etc. riding,ski touring and so on. Any maybe, just maybe travelling by train.

kerouac

For people still just wondering about visiting this year (setting aside the various and important ecological considerations), in a television interview yesterday, President Macron said "we'll probably just be vacationing among Europeans this year."

kleeblatt

Reading these comments, it's quite apparant that many of you don't live in areas dependent on tourism. Lucky you.

cafegoddess

I hope Portugal and Spain does not feel that way.

geetika

Last evening I received an email from Air France cancelling my mid-June IAD-CDG flight. Anticipated, of course, though I was surprised they cancelled almost 6 weeks in advance...

neckervd

"Under the best-case scenario, Greece will be open for business and welcoming tourists in July, provided that the EU has agreed on health protocols for travel, the country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Monday.Speaking to CNN’s Nic Robertson in Athens, on the occasion of Greece easing its Covid-19 restrictions, the Greek PM said that it is going to be a very “different summer” this year.

Referring to the country’s tourism sector, PM Mitsotakis said tourists are not coming to Greece at the moment – “during the first stage” – and that the real question is if the country will we be able to have tourists come later in the summer.

The PM said it is possible only if specific (health) protocols are agreed “hopefully at a European level”, which may see travelers getting tested before they fly to Greece and then carefully monitored upon arrival with an antibody or a PCR test.

“Τhe tourism experience this summer will be slightly different from what you’ve had in previous years, with more social distancing, maybe no bars and no tight crowds but they (tourists) will still get a fantastic experience in Greece provided the global epidemic is on a downward path,” the PM said, adding that the best-case scenario sees Greece “open for business” as of July 1.

“We’re working and preparing towards that but of course it involves airlines – because most people fly into Greece – and very strict but also enforceable protocols,” he said.

When asked by Robertson to give a percentage on how big the economic loss may be, PM Mitsotakis referred to a contraction of 10 percent.

“…It is going to be much worse if we don’t open up at all for the summer… It is going to be a very different summer but we hope that the worse is behind us,” he said.

Referring to how well Greece managed to contain the coronavirus from spreading in the country, PM Mitsotakis that what he keep as a legacy of the crisis is the sense of collective success.

“I dare to use the word pride. Greeks haven’t been proud in a long, long time,” he said.

The coronavirus has so far infected 2,632 people in Greece and the death toll has reached 146, still among the lowest among EU member-states"

https://news.gtp.gr/2020/05/05/pm-mi...greek-tourism/
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world...tl-ldn-vpx.cnn

Tulips

"The PM said it is possible only if specific (health) protocols are agreed “hopefully at a European level”, which may see travelers getting tested before they fly to Greece and then carefully monitored upon arrival with an antibody or a PCR test."

I doubt getting a test so I can go on holiday will feature high on the list of priorities for hospitals and GP's. And I assume a month-old test will not do, so I'll have to find a test within 48 hours of flying, and get the results in time, and then cancel my flights and hotel if the test is positive.

I'm sure that allowing only European tourists this summer will have an impact, but the majority of tourists in Europe are actually European. For France, for example, out of 90 million visitors annually, 70 million are European.
And with Europeans unable to travel outside the continent, that number may rise. It will all depend on what is open, and what restrictions are in place.

kerouac

Just as the example for Paris, only 6% of the visitors are American, so I am always a bit taken aback at how important they claim to be for the French economy. In terms of spending, the most important tourists in France are Chinese.

StCirq

<<Reading these comments, it's quite apparant that many of you don't live in areas dependent on tourism. Lucky you.>>

Quite the opposite, as least as regards most of the European residents who post here. I live in an area that is very heavily dependent on tourism, though not so much from Americans, and we are under strict rules now regarding staying at home, which the vast majority of people seem to be complying with. And we will be under strict rules until at least the end of July. . And I haven't heard anyone complaining even though it's a difficult time for many people. Never mind storming the local legislatures with flags and firearms. Of course, we're socialists, and that helps in times like this.

AJPeabody

OK, so you can travel, at least a little bit, at some time in the future if this and if that and if another thing. When you get there, will the shops be open? Will restaurants be running as usual? Will there be nightlife? Museums? Theaters? Sports? If there is another virus case spike, will you discover that you have to leave immediately or be locked down? Will you be subject to a newly ordered quarantine when you get home? How much uncertainty could you tolerate?

geetika

I agree completely, IMO we should stay close to home and keep international travel for 2021 or later. We were in Andalucia early March when Covid-19 wasn’t a big deal and everything seemed normal. Then suddenly Spain went into lockdown the day before we were scheduled to fly out. Luckily we made our flights without any problems, but I know how tense it was until we were safely back home. Not something I’d want to go through again, nor wish on anyone...

Fra_Diavolo

>>>We should stop all modes of travelling which is not sustainable. Stop flying, sell your car(we know the electric cars are not a solution), stop taking cruises. You can still travel by walking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, sailing, dog sledding, horse/camel etc. riding,ski touring and so on. Any maybe, just maybe travelling by train.<<<

Welcome to 1870.

That said, I'm looking forward to a nearly tourist-free NYC this summer . . .

Pepper_von_snoot

>What if the virus mutates<

All RNA viruses mutate. They don't self-correct when replicating like DNA viruses do.

COVID-19 is an RNA zoonotic virus.

You do realize you have to get a new Influenza vaccination every year. Mutation is the reason.

Thin⌚

Pepper_von_snoot

Oh, yes, the Chinese spend big bucks in Paris. When Keith and I were in Paris last December the Chinese were buying out Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Cartier, Laduree, Goyard, etc.

Every top restaurant we went to (Michelin star) was filled with Chinese. Cafe Nemours looked like it was in Beijing.

Thin,aristocrat 🍷