Although the European Union has announced that vaccinated Americans could visit Europe as early as this summer, nothing has been formally said for Canadians. Beware of those who might try to enter France by sneaking in: the consequences could be serious.
• Read also: Vaccinated American tourists admitted to Europe this summer?
While some large European countries such as Greece and Germany wish to welcome Canadian travelers, these states should not be used as a gateway to France.
“We have to be careful, even if there is no reinforced border between Germany and France. If a Canadian arrives in Germany and then sneaks into France, if he gets caught in France, he will be expelled from the area and since he did not follow the measures, he will be banned from all over the world. ‘Europe, including Germany which had allowed entry, for a period of up to 4 years,’ explains Moscow Côté, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Quebec.
“We do not go to France if we are Canadian, or by making detours,” insists Mr. Côté on the Mario Dumont program, specifying that French citizens can return to their country without problem.
Unlike Americans, the majority of Canadians will not have gotten a second dose of the vaccine until at least the summer, having not been fully immunized.
“You have to understand France, for them tourism is still important for them. It is the most visited country in the world, it is 10% of their GDP, 12% of their jobs, so they want to open their borders as quickly as possible in a safe manner, this is a good sign ”, supports M Side which sees the shadow of a resumption of travel.
In Canada, tourism represents 6 to 7% of employment. In the Dominican Republic it is 16% of employment.
The resumption of travel to Europe by vaccinated Americans was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an interview with New York Times, Sunday.
“Americans, from what I can see, use vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA),” she said. “This will allow free movement and travel to the European Union. Because one thing is clear: the 27 Member States will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines approved by the EMA ”, assured Mr.me Von der Leyen in the New York daily.
However, several states of the European Union have tightened the restrictive measures adopted at national level due to the spread of the pandemic and worried about the appearance of new variants, recognized the European Commission, leaving doubt on the possibility for them. American tourists to travel from this summer to Europe.
*** See the interview with Moscow Côté in the video above. ***