Map of Europe

Perhaps we have Norway to thank. The Nordic country's groundbreaking decision to scrap all entry requirements on February 12, returning travel to its ...

What is it about the Nordic nations? Yet, after two years of hidden faces and muffled conversations, rules around face coverings are also being discarded across Europe. Indeed, 10 countries – China, Japan, Taiwan, Myanmar, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Samoa (until August or September), Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu – are still closed to all tourists, regardless of vaccination status. Surprisingly – given its reliance on overseas visitors – Spain remains one of the strictest countries in terms of entry requirements, with all unvaccinated or (if their second dose was more than 270 days ago) unboosted adults banned. David Livermore, Professor of Medical Microbiology at UEA, predicted: “Europe will be patchy, not least because of how far some countries have gone – however pointlessly – down the path of internal vaccine mandates and passports. Serbia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania represent four more recently minted members of the green team.