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However, as long as you’re willing to commit to 14 days in quarantine after, you may be able to escape abroad for a summer holiday. Here are the destinations that will be waiting for us with arms wide open once we can travel again.

Greece

Greece has reopened its borders to visitors from 15th June, although British travellers will not be granted access to the country until 1st July at the earliest. The Greek Government has promised that international visitors will not need to have undertaken a COVID-19 test, nor will they have to be in a 14-day quarantine after arriving in the country. All airports in the country are expected to open on 1st July.

Italy

Every year, Italy is one of the top European destinations for a summer holiday and luckily, it is one of the countries that are open to international visitors already. At present, holidaymakers are not asked to quarantine upon arrival. Cafes, bars and restaurants have been gradually opening and social-distancing measures are still in place.

Portugal

International visitors are now permitted into Portugal. Over the past month, the country has slowly started opening its hotels, restaurants, bars and night clubs. Beaches are expected to open on 6th July and a new app, which informs you how busy your nearest beach is, is in the works. Social distancing is still required, and people are advised to stay 1.5 metres apart.

The Portuguese Government is currently in talks about an “air bridge” arrangement with the UK, which would allow British tourists to skip the mandatory two-week quarantine on their return home. Currently, there is no quarantine for visitors arriving in Portugal, except for the Madeira Islands (until the 1st July).

Spain

Spain has started slowly lifting its lockdown restrictions since early May and has begun welcoming international holidaymakers from 21st June. In a tweet Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said: "In July we will gradually open Spain to international tourists, lift the quarantine, ensure the highest standards of health safety. We look forward 2 welcoming you!".

Turkey

Turkey has also opened its borders to tourists from across the globe, including the UK. The country has launched a Safe Tourism Certification Programme to ensure the highest hygiene and health standards are upheld but does not require a 14-day self-isolation for people who enter its border.

Cyprus

Cyprus began allowing travel from a number of European countries, including Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark, on 9th June. Visitors from Israel, Poland and Romania are asked to present a negative COVID-19 test, while people coming from the US and UK are currently not allowed to enter the country.

Airports, seaports, malls and indoor sections of restaurants, bars and coffee shops have opened in the country. Beaches have also reopened.

Maldives

Those craving a tropical vacation will be thrilled to hear that the Maldives will be open again to holidaymakers from 15th July.

A spokesperson from the tourism board has confirmed that the Indian Ocean destination will be welcoming back travellers of all nationalities without prior testing or a mandatory quarantine period. There are also no new visa requirements or additional fees.

St Barths

From 22nd June, St Barths is also welcoming travellers but has requested they schedule a COVID-19 test 72 hours before arrival. They are required to present a physical or digital copy of it at passport control, and as long as it’s negative, they are then allowed to enter the country and begin their sun-filled adventure worry-free.

A destination known to be popular with the rich and famous, the Kardashians love going there, it’s a destination that’s been gaining popularity over the last few years. In fact, the number of annual international overnight visitors almost doubled in six years. This saw the number climb from around 8.5 million in 2010 to just under 15.3 million in 2016. That’s a lot of people.

If you’re thinking of holidaying there, and you haven’t been before, then there are a few things that you need to know before visiting Dubai. Below, we’ve listed four things you should keep in mind, which you’ve probably not even considered.

1. Smoking

While smoking in the UK has decreased over the last decade or two, it’s still quite commonplace in many other countries. However, when it comes to e-cigs and e-liquid devices, it’ll probably be best to leave yours at home while visiting Dubai. You may be wondering why, but it’s actually illegal to sell them in the UAE. But, while there isn’t a law that prohibits the use of them, some say the lines can be a bit blurred. This is due to some wondering if they could still encounter a fine if using them in a place that allows smoking. Therefore, it’s probably best to leave yours at home.

2. Clothing

While the country is known for being extremely hot, please remember that you’re in a more conservative country. Because of this, you should ensure that you keep your holiday wardrobe more on the conservative side too. This means that when packing you should make sure that you pack long-sleeves and full-length trousers, as well as your swimwear that’ll no doubt come in handy at your resort. It’ll also be worth talking to the staff at your hotel about what you can wear depending on where you’re going, if you want to be 100% sure.

3. Cash

Although we’ve become accustomed to a contactless society, this isn’t the case in Dubai. In fact, cash is still very much king when it comes to transactions. Therefore, make sure you get enough cash to take away with you before leaving for your holiday (the currency here is Dirham). However, many places will accept credit cards, but it’s always better to be prepared for any eventuality.

4. Kissing

As mentioned above, Dubai is a much more conservative country than the UK. Because of this, public kissing is a bit of a no-no. Therefore, public displays of affection in restaurants, on the beach, in nightclubs, on the street and in taxis are best avoided, as you could find yourself getting into a lot of trouble.

England might not have made it to the final, which saw France and Croatia square up and France victorious, but the real winner of the 2018 FIFA World Cup has been Russia. The nation has seen a major boost in tourism interest, from the UK in particular, during the monumental tournament, reports CheapOair.co.uk.

During the first week of the football tournament, CheapOair.co.uk saw a major uplift in its flight searches to the host nation as figures came in 232% higher than the average weekly search volume. This momentum continued the following week, 17-23 June 2018, as the average weekly number of searches Brits made had peaked at 227%.

Similarly, throughout the pre-event build-up the flight search windows between 11-17 March and 18-24 March 2018 saw a significant increase, as potential bookers were searching 182% and 160% higher than the average weekly search volume.

This goes to show that the football fixtures were not only a cause for celebration amongst football fans but also for the Russian economy, as businesses in its numerous host cities for the games have benefited from an influx in British tourists.

(Source: CheapOair)

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, recently announced new business and tourism collaborations to attract international visitors to both cities and help companies based in London and Paris to expand into new international markets.

The agreement will, for the first time, jointly showcase London and Paris to overseas visitors, while a new initiative called the Paris-London Business Welcome Programme will encourage and facilitate the flow of trade and investment between the two cities.

The announcement comes just one day before the UK government triggers Article 50, beginning the formal process of withdrawing the UK from the European Union.

The cities of Paris and London have made a choice to focus on constructive alliance, rather than competition. Since the EU referendum the two cities have been working to facilitate the joint domiciliation of companies in London and Paris, to ensure that entrepreneurs are able to develop their business in both markets.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "London and Paris are two of the greatest cities in the world and we have so much to gain from joining forces. Never underestimate the incredible benefits to be found when major cities do business together. Our great friends in Paris and across the continent are well aware that working closely together remains to our mutual benefit."

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said: "Paris and London share common values and willpower. We want to be attractive to companies all over the world. Since the election of Sadiq, our two cities have been working better together. We are developing new exchanges and new projects. All these initiatives will create employment, activity and economic growth. It is a very positive dynamic that the Brexit will not change."

Developing tourist exchanges between the two cities

Visitors to London and Paris spend in excess of £30bn (34 billion Euros) per year and the tourism economy in both cities supports 1.2million jobs.

The tourism agreement, which will launch in 2018, will focus on key drivers for international visitors to both cities, such as culture and heritage, and combine the resources of VisitLondon.com and Parisinfo.com.

An ambitious partnership for start-up exchanges

The Paris-London Business Welcome will build on both cities' business strengths and follows a statement last year from both Mayors that Paris and London would work more closely together to make the London-Paris' 'win-win partnership' even stronger.

The Paris-London Business Welcome programme will include assistance with company set-up, access to co-working space, introduction to the local tech ecosystem and networking, and discounted accommodation. Eurostar will also provide entrepreneurs with preferential rates on their services.

A common economic dynamic

London receives more inward investment from Paris than any other global city, attracting £2.6bn and generating almost 10,000 jobs over the last ten years. Paris, in comparison, is the largest European destination for foreign direct investment from London. Since January 2006, over 160 London-based companies have set up in Paris, creating 7,500 jobs in the city.

As part of the Mayor's International Business Programme, Sadiq was accompanied by a trade delegation of 15 of London's fastest growing companies on his visit to Paris. The companies were given the opportunity to showcase their innovations, meet with leading investors and explore export opportunities in the city.

(Source: londonandpartners.com)

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