Iceland cautiously opens for tourists, with tests for all

Iceland reopened its borders recently in a move welcomed by the battered tourism sector, but Covid-19 tests are required for all travellers. Recently, eight passenger planes landed at the country’s only international airport, Keflavik. Iceland closed its borders to non-EU travellers on March 20, followed a month later by the reintroduction of internal border controls, in a bid to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Today, it has only four active cases. The country of 360,000 people and breathtaking landscapes has gradually eased its restrictions since early May. But the resumption of tourism is a big one: the industry accounts for more than half of the 8% contraction Iceland’s central bank has forecast for the economy this year. While the tourists’ return will be welcomed by the sector, the central bank said it expected fewer than 400,000 tourists in 2020, the lowest number in 15 years. Iceland will require that travellers arriving by plane or ferry either take a Covid-19 test for ongoing infection or spend 14 days in quarantine. If the test is positive, travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days at a designated isolation centre at no cost, Icelandic authorities said. The state will pay the cost of the tests until the end of June. As of July 1, travellers will have to pay 15,000 kronur themselves to take the test. The testing is expected to continue for at least six months.<br/>