“We have taken a big risk,” said the Dutch government, which is lifting restrictions on its tourists inside the EU. But for foreign countries, restrictions are only increasing – and they include such popular tourist countries as Turkey and Tunisia. Those who have returned to the Netherlands from these countries must be tested before traveling and quarantined if they have not received a booster vaccine.
In total, the Dutch government has declared 12 non-EU countries “high risk areas” due to the growing number of Covid infections. The rules are being tightened from February 8 – that is, suddenly – all passengers arriving in the Netherlands from Turkey and 11 other countries will have a negative test result, and those who have not received 3 doses of booster vaccine will be subject to mandatory quarantine. In addition to Turkey and Tunisia, the list includes European Balkan countries such as Serbia, Albania, northern Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and some exotics such as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Lebanon, Panama and Suriname.
The Association of Dutch Travel Agencies (ANVR) said it was outraged by the decision. In fact, it stipulates that people over the age of 13 who come from these countries and have not received a “booster” vaccine from Covid will have to serve a mandatory 10-day quarantine. They will also have to take a test on the day of arrival in the Netherlands and on the 5th day of their stay in the country. If the test on day 5 is negative, the quarantine will end.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, travel rules have become stricter again due to the rapid increase in Covid infections in Turkey and 11 other countries. All these countries have been declared “high risk areas” and are on the list of countries that should not be visited.
“Old methods should not be fought,” said ANVR President Frank Ostdam. According to him, tourists have not been able to go anywhere outside the European Union for two years now and the tension is growing. Referring to a study by the World Health Organization and the EU, he added: “The less uncomfortable Omicron version is widespread. Therefore, it no longer makes sense to impose travel restrictions. The decision of the Netherlands creates unnecessary barriers for both business travelers and tourists, “he said.
It will be recalled that only a week ago, according to the Turkish Ministry of Health, the daily number of patients was 102,601, ie for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, this figure exceeded the psychological figure of 100,000 people. At the same time, the April closure of Turkish resorts for tourists was much lower. The then records of the “delta” strain did not exceed 60 thousand cases per day, and at the time of closing they even “rolled out” to 40 thousand. However, on the eve of the spring-summer tourist season in Turkey, which usually starts in April, last year’s blockade. Read the details at the link.
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