As world starts reopening, borders remain firmly shut

WASHINGTON • The world is gradually ending weeks of coronavirus confinement, but one area remains firmly shut - international borders, which few governments are yet daring to open.

Weeks ahead of what would be the start of the summer tourism season in the Northern Hemisphere, billions of dollars are at risk as travellers put off plans to go abroad.

"It's highly likely that international borders will remain partly closed until the pandemic is under control both in Europe and in the US, which is unlikely to happen at the same time," said Mr Luigi Scazzieri, an expert on migration and transatlantic relations at the Centre for European Reform in London.

"But even once restrictions are relaxed, we should not expect things to just go back to normal. Potential quarantines and fear are likely to curtail tourism and, to a lesser extent, business travel," he said.

World air traffic plunged by 53 per cent in March from a year earlier, the largest fall on record, according to the International Air Transport Association, the aviation industry's trade body.

Jobs are also on the line in restaurants, hotels and other sectors that depend on tourism.

Governments around the world say the reopening of borders will be determined through coordination - a sharp contrast to the jumbled and piecemeal manner in which they were shut down.

US President Donald Trump in late January banned foreign visitors from China and in mid-March restricted travel from most of Europe.

His actions at first drew criticism for their unilateralism but much of the world has followed suit, including the European Union, leading Mr Trump to say he was vindicated.

Mr Trump initially issued 30-day orders, but they remain in place.

Likewise, the EU measures are set to expire on May 15, but could be extended month to month.

The European Commission plans first to remove restrictions on movement between its member states - restoring a founding principle of the bloc - before opening up to the rest of the world.

India, which sealed itself off entirely, had been due to reopen tomorrow, but is widely expected to extend at least partial restrictions.

Asked this week when the United States would open up, Mr Trump said it "depends on how long it's taken Europe to heal" - although the US has by far the most Covid-19 deaths of any country.

The greatest worry for governments is a new wave of contagion sweeping across borders.

And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US wanted to be "confident that people who travel in from those countries won't create a tremendous increased risk" to the country.

In France, a diplomat said the priorities for reopening are schools and businesses followed by restaurants and cafes, adding that "tourism and travel come later".

Meanwhile, some limited border movements have resumed. The Czech Republic has reopened its doors to certain commercial travellers and China has been negotiating bilateral accords with South Korea, Singapore and other countries to facilitate business travel.

The US-Mexico border remains largely open, but with a ban on travel deemed non-essential, such as tourism and shopping, despite Mr Trump's campaign vows to seal off the neighbour with a wall. But Mr Trump has curbed migration to the US during the pandemic.

Airlines have taken stringent measures to prevent contagion, with US carriers offering masks, sealing all food containers and promising vigorous sanitisation between flights.

Mr Trump has proposed temperature checks and virus tests for passengers arriving in the US. But with tests in high demand within the US, systematic screening is a long way off - and few expect a full return to normal until scientists find a vaccine.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE