Cuba, Israel, and Phu Quoc unveil their reopening plans

Since March 2020, would-be travelers have faced more disruptions on the ground than in the sky. But don’t worry—Dinogo Travel is here to guide you through the latest changes and show you the way to your next adventure.

No need to stress—Dinogo Travel is always ready to help, from sharpening your pencils to straightening your gear, and keeping you updated with our weekly travel news roundup.

Here’s our latest update on pandemic travel news. Brace yourselves. It’s going to be a turbulent week.

1. France has imposed a ban on unvaccinated American travelers

France has become the latest European country—and one of the top tourist destinations—to remove the United States from its safe travel list, following a spike in Covid cases in the US.

A decree from the French government issued Thursday moved the US and Israel from the “green” list to “orange,” effectively barring unvaccinated visitors from nonessential travel to France.

The caution is mutual. France was added to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s highest-risk list – “Level 4: Covid-19 very high” – on August 9, which already advises Americans to avoid nonessential travel there.

2. Spain has followed suit

In a shift from earlier this summer’s policies, Spain is now permitting tourists from the United States only if they are fully vaccinated, as confirmed by the health ministry to Dinogo on Tuesday.

The new regulation, effective this week, requires visitors from the United States on ‘nonessential travel,’ such as tourism, to present ‘a vaccination certificate recognized as valid by the Spanish Ministry of Health.’

Like France, Spain is classified as a CDC Level 4 high-risk destination.

3. Cuba is set to begin reopening its borders in November

Cuba’s state-run media announced that the country will start reopening its borders in November, despite a recent spike in Covid cases.

Cuba has remained largely closed throughout the pandemic, severely impacting its tourism sector.

According to Cuba’s Ministry of Health, over four million people on the island have been fully vaccinated with domestically produced vaccines.

A statement from Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism, published on Monday in the Communist-party newspaper Granma, confirmed that the country will begin reopening its borders on November 15. Travelers will no longer need to take a PCR test upon arrival.

4. Israel will welcome small groups of tourists starting this month

Israel is launching a pilot program to revive tourism, allowing small foreign tour groups from select countries, according to Reuters.

Fully vaccinated tour groups of 5 to 30 people from countries on Israel's green, yellow, and orange lists will be permitted to enter the country, as announced by the tourism ministry on September 5.

Individual tourists will still be restricted from entering Israel outside of organized tour groups, though exceptions will be made for those visiting family members.

5. Phu Quoc, the Vietnamese island, will reopen next month

Vietnam has maintained strict Covid regulations – with a man recently sentenced to five years in prison for spreading the virus – but it’s still pushing forward with plans to revive its tourism sector.

Authorities are aiming to reopen the island paradise of Phu Quoc to foreign tourists next month, kicking off a six-month trial period.

The 222-square-mile island is renowned for its breathtaking beaches, including Sao Beach, Long Beach, and Ong Lang Beach.

6. Jamaica and Sri Lanka have been added to the US ‘do not travel’ list

Two beloved tropical islands—Jamaica in the Caribbean and Sri Lanka in South Asia—are the latest to join the CDC’s ever-growing list of highest-risk Covid-19 destinations.

They now join other popular vacation destinations like Greece, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Thailand, and the Bahamas.

7. The UK government faced backlash over long lines at London Heathrow

Last weekend, massive queues formed at London’s Heathrow Airport as families returned from their vacations just before the new school term began. Social media was flooded with complaints, with some travelers reporting wait times of several hours.

The airport press office issued a statement on September 4, apologizing for the long immigration queues, blaming the shortage of Border Force officers on duty that night (September 3).

The UK government is considering scrapping its travel traffic light system in the coming weeks, with the BBC reporting that it could be replaced by a new approach allowing vaccinated travelers to travel quarantine-free to destinations with similar vaccination rates as the UK.

8. Time Out has revealed its list of the 'best cities in the world'

San Francisco, famed for its thriving tech scene, vibrant restaurant culture, and iconic bridge, has been crowned the “best city in the world” by Time Out.

Time Out praises San Francisco for its 'unbeatable blend of progressiveness, inclusivity, and sustainability,' which earned it the top spot. The city was also commended for its handling of the pandemic and for having one of the highest vaccination rates in the US.

9. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will return to a more traditional format this year

The iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take a familiar route in 2021, allowing the public to once again line the streets of Manhattan to watch the spectacle.

Masks will be mandatory for volunteers and staff, and a vaccine requirement will be enforced with limited exceptions.

Details on public viewing areas, entry protocols, and restrictions will be provided in November.

10. Delta Air Lines reports success with its 'carrot and stick' approach

The company announced on Friday that its employee vaccination rate has surged from 74% to 79% since implementing the strategy just two weeks ago. However, around 20,000 Delta employees remain unvaccinated.