The Angela Merkel-led German government is planning to end a travel warning for tourist trips to 31 countries from June 15.
The final decision, however, will depend on the coronavirus situation, according to a Reuters report. According to DPA news agency, a paper on European tourism, the cabinet might agree travel to the 26 other European Union nations, Britain and the four non-EU countries in the Schengen passport-free zone—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The news comes after a state in Germany on Monday lifted certain lockdown measures, like children returning to schools, shops and restaurants are reopening, football matches being played and car companies restarting production.
Germany has so far emerged from COVID-19 pandemic with fewer deaths— 8,428—than many other countries, and this has been mainly because of German labs being able to quickly ramp-up their testing abilities and early implementation of social distancing measures.
And while lockdown measures are being eased, Chancellor Merkel insists that people follow social distancing measures and wear masks at public places till July.
The German economy, as per a report in The Financial Times, is expected to suffer its biggest postwar contraction this year. However, it seems to be on the path to recovery quicker than any other European nations. The trade sector seems to be faring better. And while certain companies are pessimistic, the gloom can be overlooked as things seem to be falling into place slowly. As per the Ifo survey, rebound in German business activity reported last week by the IHS Markit purchasing managers’ index recovered from record lows in the country’s services and manufacturing sectors and maintained well below long-run averages.
On May 18, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had said Germany was hoping to ease a travel warning on all tourist trips abroad that is in place until June 15.
