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Posted at 7:46 a.m. ET June 4, 2021
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USA TODAY
A walk in the footsteps of Pablo Picasso in Montmartre; breathe in the scents of Provence; a humble stroll along the D-Day beaches: this and all of France’s other attractions will be easily accessible again to most foreign tourists from next week – if they are vaccinated.
France is back on the menu as a destination for international tourists with coronavirus vaccinations. The government announced on Friday that it was abolishing the need for coronavirus testing for vaccinated Europeans. It also allows vaccinated tourists from the rest of the world, including the United States, much of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North and Central America, to return if they test negative.
Vaccinated visitors from “orange” countries – including the United States and the UK – no longer need to be quarantined upon arrival and no longer need to provide reasons for traveling to France. However, you will still be asked for a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test no more than 48 hours.
► Have COVID vaccine, travel: These are the countries open to fully vaccinated Americans
Vaccinated American tourists will be admitted to France starting June 9th. In addition to proof of vaccination, you need a negative PCR test no earlier than 72 hours or a rapid antigen test no older than 48 hours. (Photo: Christophe Ena, AP)
Unvaccinated children are admitted with vaccinated adults, but must have a negative test from the age of 11.
The relaxed rules come into force on Wednesday and give the French tourism sector a boost. For French tour guide Linda Zenou, the return of foreign visitors cannot come soon enough: the unemployment benefits, on which she survived during the pandemic, were suspended last month and she “runs out of resources, nothing more”. The 61-year-old had run out of foreign tourists to guide since taking a busload of English and Spanish speakers around the Palace of Versailles in February 2020
“Every day there are announcements that Americans – ‘Whoopee!’ – etc. come back, ”she said. “It’s going to take time to set up, and since I’m desperate, it’s hard to be positive.”
From countries struggling with virus floods and worrying variants, tourism to France will still not be possible. This “red list” currently includes 16 countries, including India, South Africa and Brazil.
Outside Europe, the rest of the world is classified as “orange” in the new travel rule book released by the French government on Friday.
European visitors and visitors from seven countries classified as “green” – Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand and Singapore – no longer need to be tested if they are vaccinated.
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