Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[Must...Fly!]

If going for tourism, restrict your travels to countries that want tourists, simple as that.

Croatia, Greece and Spain for example will present no issues nor will the UK, and I very much doubt Ireland will be any issue either.

 

[drron]

If going for tourism, restrict your travels to countries that want tourists, simple as that.

Croatia, Greece and Spain for example will present no issues nor will the UK, and I very much doubt Ireland will be any issue either.

Indeed Ireland is dropping most restrictions.

LIVE Ireland Covid restrictions updates as seven rules change overnight

'It is time to be ourselves again.'

www.irishmirror.ie

 

[Flashback]

Indeed Ireland is dropping most restrictions.

LIVE Ireland Covid restrictions updates as seven rules change overnight

'It is time to be ourselves again.'

www.irishmirror.ie

Indeed, curfew is now gone. I wouldn't put them in the 'safe' as UK bucket in regard to restrictions.

 

[sydneyboi]

is Portugal Sweden and Finland "opened" to Aussies now? No matter what I research I see different things - I have a EU Covid Pass but travelling with my Australian passport.... so confusing

 

[henrus]

My favourite source for this right now is the Sherpa Site -> Sherpa – Move Freely

Additionally the IATA Covid map (which is part of Timatic) helps -> IATA - International Travel Document News

Finally the Reopen EU site, at the top of the map click "travel plan" to perform a search -> Re-open EU

Sweden

Yes it's open, currently anyone who lives in Australia can enter as we're still on the "approved list", assuming we get removed (which is what the EU hinted at) it'll still be possible to enter on presentation of an EU covid certificate as Sweden is open to all who hold a covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> Questions and answers about the entry ban to Sweden

Portugal

Currently Australia is on the approved list, this may change so keep an eye on it. If Portugal does remove Australia then entry may be restricted for direct entry however entry via a different EU country would be ok provided you hold a EU covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> COVID-19 | Measures implemented in Portugal | www.visitportugal.com

Finland

Finland is open to everyone who holds an EU covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - THL

 

[jpp42]

Yes it's open, currently anyone who lives in Australia can enter [Sweden] as we're still on the "approved list", assuming we get removed (which is what the EU hinted at) it'll still be possible to enter on presentation of an EU covid certificate as Sweden is open to all who hold a covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> Questions and answers about the entry ban to Sweden

Just to be sure I understand this, the EU Covid certificate is only for EU citizens and residents right? (Reference I used: EU Digital COVID Certificate ). So not useable for the majority of members here who are likely Australian residents/citizens?

 

[sydneyboi]

My favourite source for this right now is the Sherpa Site -> Sherpa – Move Freely

Additionally the IATA Covid map (which is part of Timatic) helps -> IATA - International Travel Document News

Finally the Reopen EU site, at the top of the map click "travel plan" to perform a search -> Re-open EU


Yes it's open, currently anyone who lives in Australia can enter as we're still on the "approved list", assuming we get removed (which is what the EU hinted at) it'll still be possible to enter on presentation of an EU covid certificate as Sweden is open to all who hold a covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> Questions and answers about the entry ban to Sweden


Currently Australia is on the approved list, this may change so keep an eye on it. If Portugal does remove Australia then entry may be restricted for direct entry however entry via a different EU country would be ok provided you hold a EU covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> COVID-19 | Measures implemented in Portugal | www.visitportugal.com


Finland is open to everyone who holds an EU covid certificate.
Offical gov site -> Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - THL

Thank you Henrus! really appreciate this

 

[sydneyboi]

Just to be sure I understand this, the EU Covid certificate is only for EU citizens and residents right? (Reference I used: EU Digital COVID Certificate ). So not useable for the majority of members here who are likely Australian residents/citizens?

Hence my confusion....I also have the swiss one !

 

[henrus]

Just to be sure I understand this, the EU Covid certificate is only for EU citizens and residents right? (Reference I used: EU Digital COVID Certificate ). So not useable for the majority of members here who are likely Australian residents/citizens?

No, an EU covid certificate can be held by anyone however as an Australian getting one can be quite hard. Hopefully the Australian gov will work with the EU so ours is supported but who knows when that will happen.

The easiest way is the Swiss option where they can convert it online (about $40) however once in Europe many countries will also allow you to convert it as a chemist. I've now done the Swiss conversion twice and both times I got a response within a day (both time I just used a refundable booking.com confirmation although the 2nd time I was actually in Switzerland). Obviously converting in person once in Europe is a bit harder given many EU countries are now requiring a EU certificate for entry.

 

[sydneyboi]

No, an EU covid certificate can be held by anyone however as an Australian getting one can be quite hard. Hopefully the Australian gov will work with the EU so ours is supported but who knows when that will happen.

The easiest way is the Swiss option where they can convert it online (about $40) however once in Europe many countries will also allow you to convert it as a chemist. I've now done the Swiss conversion twice and both times I got a response within a day (both time I just used a refundable booking.com confirmation although the 2nd time I was actually in Switzerland). Obviously converting in person once in Europe is a bit harder given many EU countries are now requiring a EU certificate for entry.

you converted it twice ? the second time to show your booster I'm guessing ? Also now most EU countries only allow a EU pass with 6 -9 months since your booster as valid.

 

[Flashback]

you converted it twice ? the second time to show your booster I'm guessing ? Also now most EU countries only allow a EU pass with 6 -9 months since your booster as valid.

Do they? It's been suggested by the EU but I know of very few who have implemented that.

 

[henrus]

you converted it twice ? the second time to show your booster I'm guessing ?

Yep, in Switzerland to go to 2G+ venues (bars where you stand up, hotel pools/spa/sauna) you need to have the booster shot in the last 4 months otherwise you can still go in but need a rapid test from the chemist taken in the last 24 hours in addition to 2 jabs in the last 12 months.

For me as I'd had my booster shot it made sense just to reapply for a new swiss certifcate given the cost of a rapid test was about $40 and that was also the cost of the conversion.

Do they? It's been suggested by the EU but I know of very few who have implemented that.

France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg all have rules that require boosters. They're not required everywhere but some places require them.

 

[Flashback]

Yep, in Switzerland to go to 2G+ venues (bars where you stand up, hotel pools/spa/sauna) you need to have the booster shot in the last 4 months otherwise you can still go in but need a rapid test from the chemist taken in the last 24 hours in addition to 2 jabs in the last 12 months.

For me as I'd had my booster shot it made sense just to reapply for a new swiss certifcate given the cost of a rapid test was about $40 and that was also the cost of the conversion.


France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg all have rules that require boosters. They're not required everywhere but some places require them.

France? Nope.

kernel (20)

Les actualités relatives aux compétences régaliennes de l'institution. La sécurité (intérieure, civile, routière), l'immigration, les collectivités territoriales, les préfectures, les cultes, les élections, sont des exemples des grandes thématiques qui font l'actualité du Ministère.

mobile.interieur.gouv.fr

That's just the first on your list, I'm sure I can find similar for most of the others...

 

[guiguioz]

France? Nope.

kernel (20)

Les actualités relatives aux compétences régaliennes de l'institution. La sécurité (intérieure, civile, routière), l'immigration, les collectivités territoriales, les préfectures, les cultes, les élections, sont des exemples des grandes thématiques qui font l'actualité du Ministère.

mobile.interieur.gouv.fr

That's just the first on your list, I'm sure I can find similar for most of the others...

France DOES require a booster for the 'pass sanitaire' / EU COVID certificate depending on your date of vaccination (4 months after your last jab) - this is required to go anywhere really (bar, restaurant, domestic flight, train...). If you have a current 'pass sanitaire' and didn't get your booster, it will deactivated.
I don't think it is currently required for entry from overseas though but this may change quickly.

 

[henrus]

France? Nope.

Already answered above but yes France will let you in with just double dose but you can't physically enter venues as practically everywhere now requires a current covid certificate with a booster on it.

EU countries are weird, take France and Switzerland for example, you can enter the country using your Australian IVC but once in the country you need an EU certificate otherwise you can't do anything as the AU certificate is only accepted for entry at the border.

 

[Flashback]

I'm still struggling to see that for France. Vaccinated is still deemed as a full course of 2 jabs, a single jab vax or a booster after 2 jabs. Recovery is also fine in the specified time period.

Coming to France? Your Covid-19 questions answered

French people who are living abroad, travelling or returning from abroad, as well as visitors from abroad, will find answers below to frequently (…)

www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

I see nothing stating booster only and must be within 4 months. I was in France recently and my 2 jab cert did not block me from going anywhere.

 

[henrus]

I see nothing stating booster only and must be within 4 months. I was in France recently and my 2 jab cert did not block me from going anywhere.

These new rules only kicked in beginning of last week on the 15th of January.

I'm still struggling to see that for France. Vaccinated is still deemed as a full course of 2 jabs, a single jab vax or a booster after 2 jabs. Recovery is also fine in the specified time period.

Yes you're still "vaccinated" if you had a full course in the last 7 months however if it has been more than 7 months since your last jab then you need to have a booster otherwise you're not considered vaccinated in France. Obviously each country has their own defintion which is why some like Switzerland, Austria are say a booster in the last 4 months and others like the Netherlands and Croatia are saying 9 months.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Recent UNWTO commentary here with predictions of when international travel will return to normal. Globally, 4% increase of 2021 over 2020. Compared with 2019, Asia Pacific was down 84% in 2020, and got worse in 2021, 94% down on 2019. Europe had one of the ‘strongest’ growth rates, but that was just from 68% down to 63% down on 2019.

A mixed bag of expert views on when things will get back to relative normal.

According to the latest UNWTO Panel of Experts, most tourism professionals (61%) see better prospects for 2022. While 58% expect a rebound in 2022, mostly during the third quarter, 42% point to a potential rebound only in 2023. A majority of experts (64%) now expect international arrivals to return to 2019 levels only in 2024 or later, up from 45% in the September survey.

Many people here are surprised the EU still stands. For example, the travel restrictions in Germany, France and Italy - three of the biggest EU countries - are COMPLETELY different to each other.

You could have said the same about Australian States for most of the last two years!

cheers skip

 

[drron]

Recent UNWTO commentary here with predictions of when international travel will return to normal. Globally, 4% increase of 2021 over 2020. Compared with 2019, Asia Pacific was down 84% in 2020, and got worse in 2021, 94% down on 2019. Europe had one of the ‘strongest’ growth rates, but that was just from 68% down to 63% down on 2019.

A mixed bag of expert views on when things will get back to relative normal.



You could have said the same about Australian States for most of the last two years!

cheers skip

In graph form.

 

[henrus]

In graph form.

Grr graphs like that make me angry, these surveyed tourism experts need to keep pushing the governments... Australia's made it very easy to travel overseas but so many destinations that I want to go back to are still closed, Looking at the top 10 destinations Australians go...

1. New Zealand (They're stuck in 2021, I spent 1/4 of the year last year over there thanks to the bubble but several bubble flights had ~15 people onboard as people were scared of being stuck).
2. Indonesia (specially Bali - requires 7 days quarantine so out of the question for many).
3. Thailand (Complex testing and isolation schemes - requires going back into an isolation hotel for another test several days after arrival)
4. The Philippines (No entry for tourists)
5. Japan (I transited through Haneda a few weeks ago, you could play a football match in the terminal it was that quiet).
6. USA (Due to Americans staying at home the cost of things is just nuts, I looked at the West Coast or Hawaii over Xmas and couldn't find reasonable accommodation/rental cars).
7. Singapore (VTL only just reopened, lets hope it stays open!)
8. Fiji (also complex test/isolation - there's an AFF thread about it)
9. India (Has recently reintroduced 7 days isolation upon arrival)
10. UK (Just announced no test! Yay!)

I guess on the other side of things it's crazy that Australia is still closed to tourists. It's crazy that we allow tourists from some countries like Singapore, Japan and Korea but not others, we should open up to all but I think the Singapore/Fiji requirements of mandatory COVID-19 travel insurance should be included.