Yet again, the UK and Sweden find themselves at the bottom of the ‘we want you back’ list. Denmark reopened its borders yesterday (June 25) to most countries within the EU and Schengen free-movement area, but a handful of nations with high transmission rates – and others that are imposing quarantines on incoming travellers – are excluded.
The country’s foreign minister, Jeppe Kofod, announced in a statement that most European visitors would now be allowed into the Scandinavian country, with the exception of travellers from the UK, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Romania and all of Sweden aside from the region of Västerbotten.
Travel to these destinations is only recommended for Danish citizens if ‘strictly necessary’.
‘Today’s relaxation of travel guidelines shows that both Denmark and most of Europe stand in a significantly better place than we had dared to hope just a short time ago,’ said Kofod yesterday.
He added that travellers from Sweden and Portugal would still be barred because of those countries’ high transmission rates, while the UK, Ireland, Malta and Romania were excluded because they are still imposing travel restrictions and quarantines on Danes.
The guidelines will be revised on a weekly rolling basis, and the Danish government says it is also currently in talks to reopen its borders to countries outside of Europe.
With its reputation for agenda-setting haute cuisine, world-beating design and the genuine warmth of its people, Denmark will no doubt draw British, American and Australian tourists by the planeload very soon.
But for those who can get there now: Copenhagen, Aarhus and the like will never be this quiet again. We say: make the most of it.
Remember, many countries are still warning against all non-essential travel and some are quarantining all overseas arrivals, including their own returning citizens. Check all the relevant restrictions before you think about travelling.