Tourism in Europe: what are the coronavirus rules and who’s opening up?


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Across Europe, countries are looking for ways out of their coronavirus lockdowns and restart their economies.
So far, there has not been an EU-wide agreement but individual nations are striking deals with their neighbours.
Wherever you are, certain advice, such as social distancing, could change according to local conditions.

Germany

Berlin wants to reopen the country’s borders by June 15.

It is also deciding, on May 27, how much intra-European tourism will be allowed and where from.

Border crossings with Austria, Switzerland, France and Luxembourg began reopening on May 16. A similar deal has been reached, but not yet implemented, with Denmark.

United Kingdom

From June 8, travellers arriving by train, plane or ferry will have to spend two weeks self-isolating and provide authorities with the address where they are staying.
New arrivals will be asked to use their own car and not visit their work, schools or public areas.
For travellers without accommodation, the government has said it will provide a place to self-isolate.

Ireland

From May 28, all visitors must sign passenger locator forms and self-isolate for 14 days.
The forms tell authorities where you will be staying and the rules will be in place until at least June 18.

France

Arrivals in France from the EU’s open-border zone will be exempt from the quarantine.

France will still keep its borders mostly shut until June 15, except to people who frequently need to travel in and out for work.

  • People take a walk along the pier in Ostia, near Rome. AP
    People take a walk along the pier in Ostia, near Rome. AP
  • Italian police carry out anti-gathering checks along Ostia beach. AP
    Italian police carry out anti-gathering checks along Ostia beach. AP
  • Residents have their lunch at the tourist harbor on the first weekend after the lockdown ended. Getty
    Residents have their lunch at the tourist harbor on the first weekend after the lockdown ended. Getty
  • A Red Cross volunteer measures the temperature of a client when he arrives at the Forum sports center, in Rome, on its reopening day. AP
    A Red Cross volunteer measures the temperature of a client when he arrives at the Forum sports center, in Rome, on its reopening day. AP
  • People gather in the Piazza Navona in Rome. AP
    People gather in the Piazza Navona in Rome. AP
  • European governments are grappling with how to safely reopen. AP
    European governments are grappling with how to safely reopen. AP
  • The sign says not to eat or drink at the counter. AFP
    The sign says not to eat or drink at the counter. AFP
  • People swim in the Forum's outdoor pool. AP
    People swim in the Forum's outdoor pool. AP

Anyone arriving in France will have to say why they are there and where they will be staying.

Italy

From June 3, EU citizens will be allowed to travel into Italy. Restrictions on internal travel is also being lifted early next month.
The Italian tourist agency says visitors will have to follow local orders on social-distancing guidelines and access to beaches.

Spain

Spain has reopened its borders but anyone arriving has to complete a two-week quarantine.
The country is heavily dependent on tourism and hopes to lift the self-isolation rule in July.
The country has so far only referred to travellers from the EU and it is not known when that might widen to other areas.
Leaders are also looking to create safe corridors between Spanish areas that have Covid-19 under control and similar areas around Europe.

Greece

Greece wants its borders open to European tourists by June 15, but that date has not yet been confirmed.

The country was quick to react to the pandemic and has one of the lowest death rates in Europe.

Athens has listed 19 countries judged safe enough to allow international travel. The list includes China, Japan, Australia, Poland and Serbia. The UK, Italy, Spain and the United States are not on the list.

Austria

The country is reopening its EU borders on June 15.
It has already reopened two crossings into Hungary and allowed some of the crossings into Germany.
Spot checks will be carried out on foreigners arriving in the country.
Austria's alpine tourism is heavily dependent on German visitors.

Poland

Strict closures will stay in place until at least June 12.

Norway 

From May 13, travellers from all EU nations plus Iceland and Liechtenstein have been barred from entry except people who work in the country or have relatives living there.

Iceland

Iceland will begin lifting restrictions on June 15.
Visitors will have to have a coronavirus test on arrival or do a two-week quarantine.

Croatia

Croatia began opening its border with Slovenia earlier this month.

German tourists will not be allowed to visit the country until at least June 15.

The health ministry has indicated other deals will be reached with other EU nations in the coming weeks

Slovenia

Slovenia reopened its borders on May 15. Visitors crossing from Hungary, Italy and Austria are exempt from an otherwise mandatory seven-day quarantine.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday: 

  • 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
  • 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
  • 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
  • 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
  • 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
  • 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
  • 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
  • 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
  • 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
  • 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)