Staying Fit
The U.S. Department of State has lifted its global advisory against all international travel, but the recent change doesn't mean American tourists will be roaming the world anytime soon. Many countries remain on the department's “do not travel” list because of the pandemic or other reasons having to do with crime or social unrest. And some nations that have their own outbreaks under control are banning Americans, as the coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S.
In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a country that currently offers both safe travels, as determined by the State Department, and a welcoming, restriction-free policy toward American visitors.
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There are about a dozen countries in the Caribbean, desperate for tourism dollars while cruise ships remain out of commission, that are now allowing U.S. visitors — but many that have seen their COVID-19 caseloads rise with the arrivals are requiring American travelers to provide negative COVID-19 tests and/or quarantine. “A lot of these countries’ GDP depends on tourism,” says Jan L. Jones, professor of hospitality and tourism at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. “But [COVID-19's] cost to their health system is just so high."
The State Department's recent change, made in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reverts to its previous detailed, country-specific recommendation system, using numbered 1 through 4 advisories. Level 1 indicates that a country is relatively safe and tourists should “exercise normal precautions.” It now includes only Greenland, Macau and Taiwan.
The highest level, 4, means “do not travel.” The State Department website has a user-friendly color-coded world map, offering a startling look at how much of the globe remains at Level 4 — including nearly all of South America, Asia and the Middle East; many parts of Africa; and Mexico. In some cases the travel warning is due not only to high levels of COVID-19, but to terrorism, crime or other threats.
