Thanks, BDKR, AJPeabody, and kerouac. It would be nice to know, but I do get that it’s really a wait-and-see situation. And honestly, I would be surprised if the US would be allowed to enter the EU by the fall. But I don’t have my crystal ball booted up, either.

How about the other way round, when will the US open up to people from other countries? Probably not many tourists want to come now, but I have friends who would like to visit their family, mainly grandparents to see their grandkids, they would stay put in one place and not travel within the US.

I would say that perhaps the best indicator for Americans to watch will be how long it takes for the US/Canada border to reopen. Since those two countries are supposed to be among the best friends in the world, if those borders remain closed it would be absurd to think that other borders would magically open.

What you say makes perfect sense kerouc, the US/Canada border will be the first to open, only then visitors from other countries.

Kerouac-A couple of years ago, when I was getting VAT tax rebate paperwork for purchases made at Galleries Lafayette, the employee who was going over my receipts and passport said in a not very complimentary tone, “the Chinese only come once, but people like you come back many times”.

I live in a smallish seaside town north of LA, Santa Barbara, that finally had allowed cruise ships to dock and many of the passengers I would see roaming around downtown were Asian. Can’t imagine they will be coming back soon to California or to Paris.

Yes, we go back every year, this year I had three trips planned, May, June and September!

I disagree. Switzerland is planning to open its borders with Germany, France and Austria as of June 15.

""Tourism can resume between the three countries from mid-June, provided the conditions are right," she confirmed."

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/free-mo...rders/45756568

I actually disagree...I think once borders are open and things settle down to some sort of new normal Asians including will be back in US and France. They spend some serious money and with both countries looking to build economy back up they will be welcome.

Lois-I think they will be back, but not for a year or two. Most travelers and countries are going to be very wary of restarting international travel (and reigniting a second round of the pandemic). I think a vaccine is going to be the key to getting back to any kind of normal levels of tourism and travel. My son and his fiancée are moving to Hawaii at the end of the month and will be in quarantine for 2 weeks as they should be. Doubt that tourists want to do that though.

Right now our PM is saying not until at least June 21st, and that is not hard and fast at all; it's a kind of wait and see situation.

right that is what I meant by "when things settle down" that is not this year...maybe with some serious luck next year. And for quite some time we will all have to weight the risk vs benefit of travel...some of us have more to consider.

German and Dutch tourists have much more impact on the tourist economy, but I don't think the Dutch will be welcome anywhere in Europe this summer.

The Dutch have a reputation in France of buying only bread locally for a month long holiday. They even bring bags of potatoes and cases of beer in their caravans. :serious:

Kerouac, no worries, my friend. However, my personal prediction is that Americans will be able to travel to Europe by mid July again.

I don’t think a vaccine is the key. I simply don’t think tourist dependent areas can/will wait that long. Hawaii is already loosening restrictions, and I’d be surprised if they haven’t opened up for tourism by August-September. Same with Europe. It would take a second wave, along the lines of Italy, China, or NYC, to shut everything down longer. It’s not merely retail, dining, etc—it’s also tax money, port money, infrastructure. Plus people’s memories are short. I’ve seen more and more maskless or just nutty mask wearing here in the last week

(bizarrely, hundreds Of tourists are/were landing in Hawaii. Clearly many planning to break quarantine, police have their hands full enforcing that).

Many countries have pay as you go pension systems. If nobody works. Nobody pays into the system. In some cases pretty quickly they can't keep paying the pensions.

How much of that border is REALLY closed? Almost none of it is patrolled. There are even a few towns that straddle it.

It doesn't really matter if it invalidates all of your insurance and health coverage to cross a forbidden border.

I agree with you - that’s why I’m still holding onto hope and a ticket to Athens for mid-July.