These Countries Are Open for Tourists This Summer After COVID-19 Shut Them Down

Cyprus began allowing direct flights to the island in the eastern Mediterranean beginning on June 9 from 19 countries over two phases. In the first stage, Cyprus allowed flights from Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Israel. Visitors will have to test negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours of their flight. The second phase is due to begin June 20, with flights from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Croatia, and Estonia allowed to land in Cyprus. No test will be required.

Landlocked Hungary, known for its many historic sites, is open for tourists from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia who need not quarantine. Hotels are reopening in phases. Hungarians or permanent residents returning from outside of Hungary must quarantine for 14 days.

Mexico is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and the state Quintana Roo — where vacation spots such as Cancun and Riviera Maya are located — and the Pacific Coast city of Los Cabos have begun to open for visitors. However, hotels are only opening at 30% of their capacity, and they hope to reach 50% in July. Travelers arriving at Mexico’s airports undergo a temperature check.

Turkey, one of the most visited countries in the world, announced in early June that it planned to resume flights to and from 40 countries in several stages, starting on June 10. Turkey has also reached a preliminary accord to resume reciprocal flights with 15 nations that include Italy, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Belarus, Jordan, and Morocco. Hotel guests will be required to wear face masks and maintain social distancing.

Slovakia began reopening on June 10 and has published a list of 19 epidemiologically safe countries, all of which are in Europe. Anybody entering Slovakia who has visited a country not considered safe in the previous 14 days must either submit a negative test result to the authorities or self-isolate and take a test within five days.