Germany considers temporary ban on foreign tourism
In response to growing anger over airlines offering flights to the Spanish island of Mallorca again, the government announced on Wednesday evening that it was considering a temporary ban on touristic travel abroad.
Deputy government spokesperson, Ulrike Demmer, confirmed on Wednesday that the government was checking the legality of a temporary travel ban.
"An order to check if there is a possibility to temporarily stop travel to popular holiday destinations abroad...is now being checked by the responsible ministries," Demmer said.
Several state leaders and government officials have expressed anger at the fact that Mallorca was taken off the list of risk areas by the Foreign Ministry, leading airlines to start offering flights to the Spanish island again.
"It is not good that such holiday trips are taking place now in this situation," Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday. He added that it was "not right" that some people were travelling abroad while holidays in Germany were prohibited.
Mallorca currently has a 7-day incidence below 50, meaning the Robert Koch Institute no longer classifies it as a high risk region.
A rule established last year by the government means that people are only required to quarantine and take a PCR test if they come to Germany from a region with a 7-day incidence above 50.
But politicians have expressed concern that Germans are able to stay in hotels abroad while it is not possible to holiday in Germany, where hotels and holiday homes are only allowed to offer beds to business guests.
In Monday’s lockdown agreement, the government and state leaders said they “expected” airlines to ensure all holiday makers who fly back to Germany are tested negative for the virus, regardless of where they are flying from.
The airlines have signalled a willingness to implement this request.
SEE ALSO: Travel in Germany: What’s allowed (and not) over Easter holidays?
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Deputy government spokesperson, Ulrike Demmer, confirmed on Wednesday that the government was checking the legality of a temporary travel ban.
"An order to check if there is a possibility to temporarily stop travel to popular holiday destinations abroad...is now being checked by the responsible ministries," Demmer said.
Several state leaders and government officials have expressed anger at the fact that Mallorca was taken off the list of risk areas by the Foreign Ministry, leading airlines to start offering flights to the Spanish island again.
"It is not good that such holiday trips are taking place now in this situation," Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday. He added that it was "not right" that some people were travelling abroad while holidays in Germany were prohibited.
Mallorca currently has a 7-day incidence below 50, meaning the Robert Koch Institute no longer classifies it as a high risk region.
A rule established last year by the government means that people are only required to quarantine and take a PCR test if they come to Germany from a region with a 7-day incidence above 50.
But politicians have expressed concern that Germans are able to stay in hotels abroad while it is not possible to holiday in Germany, where hotels and holiday homes are only allowed to offer beds to business guests.
In Monday’s lockdown agreement, the government and state leaders said they “expected” airlines to ensure all holiday makers who fly back to Germany are tested negative for the virus, regardless of where they are flying from.
The airlines have signalled a willingness to implement this request.
SEE ALSO: Travel in Germany: What’s allowed (and not) over Easter holidays?
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