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A Chill Vacation Wind Blows Across Europe

Jamie Dettmer

   LONDON - Europe's airlines, hoteliers and tour operators fear abrupt
   changes to coronavirus travel rules by governments are killing their
   chances to salvage something of a wrecked vacation season.

   The British government's sudden decision Saturday to add Spain to its
   list of "at-risk" countries, forcing tens of thousands of Britons
   already holidaying in Spain to quarantine for 14 days on their return
   and upending plans for tens of thousands of others scheduling
   vacations, has dealt a massive blow to hopes that the travel industry
   might be able to recoup some of its massive losses from the pandemic.

   Britain and its European neighbors only recently lifted bans on
   overseas travel for leisure in a bid to return to some semblance of
   normality. They had come under fierce lobbying by the continent's
   desperate airlines and travel firms to do so.

   "This is going to cause absolute chaos for travel firms as they are at
   peak season now," said travel consultant Paul Charles.

   "The timings could not be worse. With departures this weekend, there
   are about to be 2 million Brits in Spain. It is the last thing travel
   companies want to see because of the sheer volume of holidaymakers
   affected. And it will be a huge blow to people there, who will now have
   to quarantine, or those about to fly on holiday," he added.

   Britain isn't alone in opting for caution. Saturday also saw Ireland
   omit Britain from a list of "safe" countries, telling its citizens it
   should be avoided for all but essential travel. France has issued a
   warning about travel to Spain. The French government has not closed the
   border with Spain, but a French official told VOA that Paris is
   considering the possibility.

   Norway, too, is advising against travel to Spain.

   The sudden moves are likely to deter travelers generally from risking
   trips to other countries because of the chance of new restrictions
   being imposed with little warning.

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