The EU is considering barring American tourists—again – By Jasmina Kuzmanovic, Andra Timu, Siddharth Philip and Bloomberg (Fortune) / Aug 26 2021
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The European Union will discuss on Thursday whether to reimpose curbs on visitors from the U.S. as new coronavirus cases soar.
The change was recommended by Slovenia, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency and is responsible for triggering an assessment of countries allowed non-essential travel there, according to two officials familiar with the plans.
The U.S. had 507 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the first two weeks of August, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, well above the limit of 75 set out in EU guidelines. Still, a move to bar visitors from the world’s largest economy would come as a blow to airlines and travel firms pressing for a full reopening of lucrative transatlantic routes.
“Such a decision would be hugely disappointing for Europe’s airlines, not to mention our tourism sector, which has benefited greatly from the influx of American travelers since restrictions were removed in June,” the Airlines for Europe lobby group said in a statement Wednesday.
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