December 16: Greece is reacting to the increasing number of corona infections due to the Omikron variant: From December 19, entry is subject to a general test requirement. Regardless of the vaccination status, a negative current PCR test must be presented. Originally, the government had only planned this measure for travelers from Great Britain and Denmark to prevent the spread of the Corona variant Omikron. Now it will be extended to all immigrants, as the Ministry of Health announced.
Italy: Vaccinated people also need a test
December 14th: The Christmas vacation in Italy is getting more complicated: From December 16, entry is next to the Online registration generally a test is mandatory. Vaccinated and convalescent people also have to have a smear test before they leave, and those who have not been vaccinated must be quarantined for five days after their arrival in addition to the test. There are exceptions for children: they do not have to be tested under the age of six. Under the age of twelve, they are spared quarantine even without a vaccination, provided their parents are fully immunized. According to the Italian Ministry of Health, the new regulations will apply until January 31st.
In the Italian hotels the 3-G rule remains, in restaurants you have to be vaccinated or have recovered. Many ski areas are already open, “3 G” applies there.
Western Australia plans to open its borders in February
December 14th: A trip to Australia is becoming possible again – at least in the sparsely populated west of the country: Western Australia wants to reopen its borders to international travelers on February 5, 2022, as announced by the state government. The prerequisite is that 90 percent of the residents over twelve years are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The requirements for travelers will be strict: they will have to show a negative PCR test upon entry and have themselves tested twice in the country. Unvaccinated tourists will be isolated in a designated quarantine facility or special hotel for two weeks. The state of Western Australia makes up around a third of the area of Australia, but the country’s most famous sights such as Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef or Fraser Island are in the east and south-east.
Cuba does not have quarantine
October 21: No test, no quarantine – vacationing in Cuba will soon be easier for vaccinated people too. From November 15, all that is required for entry is complete immunization with a vaccine recognized in the respective country of origin, as announced by the Cuban Tourist Office in Berlin with reference to a press conference by the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda. By then, 90 percent of Cubans should be vaccinated. As early as November 7th, the previously mandatory quarantine will be lifted after entry. Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old on arrival. Children under the age of twelve do not need a vaccination or a test. However, from the perspective of the federal government, Cuba is currently a high-risk corona area. There is a travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office, unvaccinated people have to be quarantined after their return.
Thailand plans to open up for vaccinated people from Germany
12th of October: Out of the sandpit: So far, holidaymakers in Thailand have only been able to travel to a few regions that have been declared as “sandbox” model projects. Vaccinated people from 46 countries are now to be allowed to travel all over Thailand again from November 1st. In addition to Germany, the list also includes the USA, Singapore and China, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced in a televised address. He had instructed the Crisis Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Ministry of Health to “urgently review the plan by the end of the week,” said Prayut. In addition to full vaccination protection, a PCR test would be required before departure and another upon arrival in Thailand. After that, vacationers could travel freely to all parts of the country. For a long time, trips to Thailand were not possible because of the corona pandemic. The model projects then started in the summer, for example on the islands of Phuket and Ko Samui. Vaccinated travelers were allowed to come, but had to adhere to strict rules and largely stay on site.