https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Two major changes that were due to come into force in 2022 for travellers entering the EU - an enhanced passport scanning system and the introduction of a €7 visa for tourists - have been delayed for a year. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220805/eu-delays-passport-scan-system-and-e7-travel-fee-until-2023 Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:29:58 +0200 eu-delays-passport-scan-system-and-e7-travel-fee-until-2023 The UK is set to scrap all Covid-19 travel restrictions in what the government described as a "landmark moment". https://www.thelocal.ch/20220315/travel-in-europe-uk-to-scrap-all-travel-covid-travel-rules Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:23:56 +0100 travel-in-europe-uk-to-scrap-all-travel-covid-travel-rules As the ski season continues many travellers will be coming to the French Alps and often the most convenient route is to fly into Geneva and then cross the border into France - but what does this mean for travel rules? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220217/reader-question-what-are-the-travel-rules-if-i-come-to-france-via-switzerland Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:38:05 +0100 reader-question-what-are-the-travel-rules-if-i-come-to-france-via-switzerland If you're planning a trip over the border this autumn, here is what you need to know on the current rules on travel and health passes in France and Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20211020/what-are-the-rules-for-travel-between-switzerland-and-france-this-autumn Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:16:54 +0200 what-are-the-rules-for-travel-between-switzerland-and-france-this-autumn The UK government has changed its travel rules to demand that fully vaccinated arrivals in England must quarantine if they had two different vaccine doses - a practice common across Europe and taken up by thousands including German chancellor Angela Merkel. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210813/uk-changes-travel-rules-again-to-impose-quarantine-on-european-arrivals-who-had-mixed-vaccine-doses Fri, 13 Aug 2021 17:58:57 +0200 uk-changes-travel-rules-again-to-impose-quarantine-on-european-arrivals-who-had-mixed-vaccine-doses As borders around Europe gradually open, travellers from the UK find themselves in the odd position of being allowed to travel but officially advised against it by the government. Here's what that means for people with family in different countries, second-home owners and tourists. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210518/what-does-uks-new-travel-advice-for-europes-amber-countries-mean Tue, 18 May 2021 13:24:36 +0200 what-does-uks-new-travel-advice-for-europes-amber-countries-mean The European Commission has proposed creating new "dark red zones" which would be subject to tight travel restrictions whilst Europeans have been "strongly discouraged" from all but essential travel within the EU as Covid-19 infections rise. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210122/europeans-urged-not-to-travel-as-eu-agency-demands-tighter-measures Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:24:12 +0100 europeans-urged-not-to-travel-as-eu-agency-demands-tighter-measures The UK government has announced that it is introducing new rules stating that all arrivals into the country will need to present a negative Covid test. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210108/all-arrivals-into-the-uk-will-soon-need-a-negative-covid-test-government-announced Fri, 08 Jan 2021 11:22:26 +0100 all-arrivals-into-the-uk-will-soon-need-a-negative-covid-test-government-announced Tourists from the UK look set to be included in the EU's ban on non-essential travel after the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st, unless the European Council decides otherwise. https://www.thelocal.ch/20201126/british-people-could-face-covid-19-travel-restriction-in-europe-from-january Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:03:54 +0100 british-people-could-face-covid-19-travel-restriction-in-europe-from-january Children 6 and over and all adults will have to wear face masks on all European flights after EU transport ministers agreed new security measures to battle the spread of coronavirus. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200724/eu-to-make-face-masks-compulsory-on-all-european-flights Fri, 24 Jul 2020 11:52:37 +0200 eu-to-make-face-masks-compulsory-on-all-european-flights Anyone who thought that 'Europe' was one homogeneous bloc would have been swiftly disabused of that notion during the pandemic, when all countries imposed different rules and regulations. As lockdown eases these differences remain, as I discovered when taking a trip over the French border to Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200701/from-masks-and-distancing-to-hugs-to-spas-crossing-the-french-swiss-border-in-the-covid-era Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:19:41 +0200 from-masks-and-distancing-to-hugs-to-spas-crossing-the-french-swiss-border-in-the-covid-era American travellers look set to be denied entry to the EU when the bloc reopens its borders on July 1st, according to reports. While those from Australia and New Zealand will likely to be allowed to return. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200623/will-americans-be-barred-from-travel-to-europe Wed, 24 Jun 2020 00:28:46 +0200 will-americans-be-barred-from-travel-to-europe The new website Re-open.eu gives detailed, country-specific information about potential travel restrictions, what services are open as well as the latest on the coronavirus spread. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200616/new-eu-website-helps-tourists-choose-holiday-spot-during-coronavirus-pandemic Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:51:32 +0200 new-eu-website-helps-tourists-choose-holiday-spot-during-coronavirus-pandemic The EU's external borders have been effectively closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic but the European Commission is set to announce a plan for a "progressive and partial" reopening of them from July 1st. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200610/eu-proposes-progressive-and-partial-reopening-of-borders-in-july Wed, 10 Jun 2020 15:11:04 +0200 eu-proposes-progressive-and-partial-reopening-of-borders-in-july From June 8th, the UK has introduced a compulsory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals to its shores - here's what you need to know about the rules if you are travelling from Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200608/what-you-need-to-know-about-uk-quarantine-if-you-are-travelling-from-europe Mon, 08 Jun 2020 11:43:45 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-uk-quarantine-if-you-are-travelling-from-europe As the anti-flying movement known as “flight shaming” is gaining momentum across Europe, Switzerland is adding new train services to some of its international routes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20191010/flight-shaming-boosts-swiss-train-services Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:36:43 +0200 flight-shaming-boosts-swiss-train-services