‘Really, really exciting’: travelers head to United States as entry ban lifted

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LONDON/PARIS — Vacationers excited on the prospect of seeing household and buddies in the USA for the primary time because the pandemic began took off early on Monday from London, Paris and different cities following the lifting of U.S. journey restrictions.

The extraordinary U.S. journey restrictions https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-braces-surge-vaccinated-international-travelers-2021-11-07, first imposed in early 2020, had barred entry to non-U.S. residents touring from 33 international locations – together with China, India and far of Europe – and had additionally restricted overland entry from Mexico and Canada.

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From Monday, vacationers who can present official proof of vaccination in opposition to COVID-19 and have had a latest, damaging viral take a look at can once more fly to the USA https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-you-need-know-about-new-us-international-air-travel-rules-2021-11-07.

“Actually, actually thrilling. I imply, I used to be meant to go simply earlier than COVID occurred, and clearly it’s been delayed this lengthy, so it’s actually thrilling to lastly be capable to go,” Alice Keane, touring to Miami to see her sister, mentioned at London’s Heathrow airport.

The unprecedented journey ban, first imposed by the Trump administration, has dealt an enormous blow to tourism however has additionally saved family members from attending weddings, funerals, or assembly new infants https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/grandmother-grandson-finally-meet-us-flights-reopen-2021-11-05.

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“I believe we’d simply begin crying,” mentioned Bindiya Patel, who was going to see her younger nephew in New York for the primary time https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/grandmother-grandson-finally-meet-us-flights-reopen-2021-11-05. “We’ve been facetiming the entire yr. However, you understand, to truly see (them) in particular person…” mentioned her mom, Bhavna Patel, delighted about getting to satisfy her grandson for the primary time.

Lengthy-term rivals British Airways and Virgin Atlantic carried out a simultaneous take-off from London’s Heathrow parallel runways simply earlier than 0900 GMT.

The flights are full, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss mentioned, whereas passenger quantity is anticipated to stay excessive within the coming weeks with the strategy of Thanksgiving and winter holidays.

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‘FINALLY!’

Travellers had been equally excited in Paris, which has additionally seen an enormous enhance in bookings.

“Very joyful,” Michel Valente, touring from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport together with his spouse, relieved that he would lastly see his household in the USA in particular person somewhat than through video calls.

For Paul Fuchs, it was in regards to the probability to do some tourism once more and journey to Disney World. “Lastly the chance to return to the U.S!,” he mentioned.

Airways, which have warned of lengthy queues at first, will test vaccination documentation for worldwide vacationers as they already do for COVID-19 take a look at outcomes.

U.S. land borders are additionally reopening to non-essential journey, although differing guidelines over coronavirus vaccines https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/some-mexicans-seek-out-new-jabs-us-border-restrictions-relax-2021-11-06 threaten to carry up some household reunions for folks looking for to cross the two,000 mile (3,200 km) border with Mexico.

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The prospect of easing restrictions has additionally inspired migrants to strive their luck looking for U.S. asylum https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/spurred-by-reopening-more-migrants-head-us-mexico-border-2021-11-07, posing a brand new take a look at for President Joe Biden’s administration.

On the land border crossings from Mexico and Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Safety will ask vacationers if they’ve been vaccinated and can spot-check some documentation.

Beneath-18s are exempt from the brand new vaccine necessities. Non-tourist vacationers from almost 50 international locations with nationwide vaccination charges of lower than 10% are additionally eligible for exemption.

(Reporting by Tara Oakes, Stuart McDill, Sarah Younger, Antony Paone, David Shepardson; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Enhancing by Gareth Jones)