SINGAPORE – From Paris to the pyramids of Egypt, travel restrictions are being eased as destinations across Europe and North Africa eye a return to something close to normality.
For most travellers outside Europe, however, the coffee and croissant in a sidewalk café in Montmartre will have to wait until international air services ramp up.
Tourists from the US, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East will just have to wait for now. Europe is expected to start opening up to some visitors from elsewhere next month.
From Monday 15 June cafes and restaurants can open across France and travel to other European countries will be allowed.
The European Commission is also encouraging all internal border restrictions to be lifted; however, only a small number of nations have announced they will re-open.
Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland and Germany will fully open their borders on15 June. The Czech Republic is allowing unrestricted travel to and from 26 states but is still banning people from Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and the UK.
Greece has opened its borders and is allowing travellers from farther afield such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to enter.
Italy reopened its borders on 3 June as has Poland, which opened to EU travellers on 13 June.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country would allow free travel with EU countries from 21 June, except for Portugal.
The Dutch Government has formally reopened its borders to travellers from the Schengen zone and the United Kingdom. Restrictions do apply. Tourists must reserve their holiday accommodation before travelling. Without a valid reservation they can be refused entry at the border.
Egypt will reopen its airports on 1 July and welcome travellers to selected beach resorts. Flights will resume "between Egypt and countries which have reopened their airspace", said aviation minister Mohamed Manar during a news conference in Cairo.
Egypt has since March halted air traffic and shuttered archaeological sites, museums and hotels to stem the spread of Covid-19.
The government has also decided to waive tourist visas from 1 July until 31 October.
Other tourist sites including the pyramids at Giza, the Egyptian museum in Cairo and Luxor's Karnak temple will reopen progressively.