U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement regarding the European Union’s restrictions to welcome travelers from the United States.
Europe will allow outsiders to begin entering again on July 1, but the U.S. and Russia are now among the nations considered too risky because they have not controlled the coronavirus outbreak. The acceptable countries also include China — but only if China allows European Union travelers to visit as well, according to the New York Times.
The United States, which banned most European Union travelers in March when the virus was raging in Europe, has not eased its own restrictions since then, even though European infections and deaths have dropped.
Tori Emerson Barnes’ statement says, “The E.U.’s announcement is incredibly disappointing, and a step in the wrong direction as we seek to rebuild our global economy.
“In the U.S. alone, travel-related jobs account for more than a third of lost employment due to the fallout of the pandemic. Health is paramount, and the public has a major role to play by embracing best practices such as wearing masks, but we are at a stage when it should be possible to make progress.
“This is unwelcome news, and will have major negative implications for economic recovery—particularly if this ban results in cycles of retaliation, as is so often the case.”
