L’abandon des tests, considérés comme des freins à la mobilité internationale, était très attendu des pros du voyage comme les voyageurs.
The abandonment of tests, considered to be an obstacle to international mobility, was eagerly awaited by travel professionals and travellers alike.
“Proof of vaccination is once again sufficient to arrive in France, regardless of the country of origin,” emphasised Prime Minister Jean Castex. Travel professionals had been calling for this relaxation for several days. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for Tourism, supported their request to the executive.
Relief for EDV
“This realistic change in regulations is in line with the demands of Les Entreprises du Voyage (EdV),” explained Jean-Pierre Mas, the union’s president, in a press release. “The liberalisation of mobility will restore France’s international attractiveness and, at the same time, allow French people to travel around the world without fear of not being able to return home at the end of their trip,” he added.
The concomitance of this measure with the reopening of Morocco and the end of the negative test requirement for entry into Tunisia from 15 February should “encourage the resumption of bookings to these two very popular destinations in the spring”, add the EdV. These two countries, traditionally popular with the French, have been in the doldrums for several months. In January 2022, travel bookings to Tunisia fell by 61%, compared to January 2019, according to the Orchestra barometer for L’Echo touristique. Those concerning Morocco, by 80%.
Testing continues for the unvaccinated
For unvaccinated travellers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains. But as of Saturday 12 February, the measures on arrival – testing, isolation – are lifted when they come from countries on the green list.
Finally, unvaccinated people coming from an “orange” list country will still have to show a compelling reason and “may still be subject to random testing on arrival”, the government says. Travellers who test positive will then have to isolate themselves.
Tests on entry into France for all travellers from outside the EU were added on 4 December 2021. The aim was to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.