US unlikely to make cut in EU virus safe list

(30 Jun 2020) The European Union is edging toward finalizing a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again in coming days, with Americans almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of U.S. coronavirus cases.
More than 15 million Americans are estimated to travel to Europe annually, and any delay would be a further blow to virus-ravaged economies and tourism sectors including the tourism capitals of Rome, Barcelona, Paris and Athens.
In Italy, the European country that was hit the earliest by the pandemic, many hope to revive a decimated tourist industry, which is worth 13% of Italy's gross domestic product.
Restaurants around the Trevi Fountain in Rome remained largely empty.
Restaurant workers say a ban on American tourists would only stall the recovery process.
In the coastal Spanish city of Barcelona food restaurants near the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica were not open on Monday.
Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece visited by millions remains closed and will only begin opening gradually to locals on July 4.
Despite the lack of tourists, taxis remained parked outside the basilica in the hope of getting customers.
Javed Ikbal was one of them, but his wait was in vain.
He has been driving tourists and locals around the city for the past 10 years and said that at least 20% of his passengers are American citizens.
Now it is nearly 0.
He said he understood the reason behind banning visitors from countries where virus cases were still on the rise, but hoped that would be over soon.
In Paris' the famed Champs-Élysées avenue, cafés normally bursting with tourists saw empty tables.
In Athen's Plaka district, the streets were also empty, but locals hope this will change soon.
On Wednesday, international flights will be allowed at regional airports across Greece.
Since June 15, tourists can fly only through the airports in Athens or the northern city of Thessaloniki.
The Greek civil protection agency has said the regional airports opening to international flights on July 1 will have health teams that include members of the armed forces, fire department and police to assist in sample coronavirus testing of incoming passengers.
Greece has been eager to attract foreign visitors, as tourism makes up a significant part of the country's economy.
The Bank of Greece on Monday said it expects a major drop in tourism revenue which topped 18 billion euros ($20.3 billion), about 10 percent of the country's annual output.

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