Beaches, nightclubs? Europe mulls how to get tourists back

Mediterranean resort town of Ayia Napa is kwn for its boisterous parties. Each summer, thousands of young foreign tourists pack dance floors of its nightlife district after a day at beach.

But pandemic silenced exuberant Napa Strip district as island nation of Cyprus went into a lockdown to halt spread of coronavirus. w nightclub owners wonder when social distancing rules will be eased eugh for party to resume — and what those new parties will look like.

“We kw at nightclubs, young people will go to dance and have a good time. But n you have to tell m that y have to keep 2 meters (6 feet) apart from each or?” asked Charalambos Alexandrou, spokesman for a group representing local clubs, bars and restaurants.

Across sourn Europe, in places where tourism drives much of ecomy, officials are weighing how to entice travelers to come back,

Social distancing rules may work in restaurants, but that's t likely to solve quandary facing Ayia Napa’s nightclubs. Alexandrou said this will be “a season of trying to survive,” t seeking a profit.

One idea being considered is asking holidaymakers to take a COVID-19 test prior to ir arrival. Cyprus has officially reported 916 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths.

country's deputy minister for tourism, Savvas Perdios, said Cyprus will initially look to bring tourists from nearby countries that have mand to contain virus — Greece, Israel, United Arab Emirates and some central European and rdic nations.

Authorities will take more time to assess course of pandemic in United Kingdom and Russia, island’s primary tourism markets, before rolling out red carpet for those countries.

Tourists in near future will have to navigate a different set of expectations, routines and rules to counter virus.

Christos Angelides, president of Cyprus Hotel Manrs’ Association, said new rules being anunced soon will mean that from moment tourists step out of ir bus or taxi from airport, ir lugg will be disinfected and taken straight to ir rooms. Reception procedures will be done electronically, with employees behind a plexiglass screen and cleaning staff in full protective gear.

Guests eyeing a vacation in Portugal, ar major sourn European holiday destination, will probably look beyond a hotel's online reviews to see if it has “Clean&Safe” seal w being awarded by local tourism officials. seal indicates that establishment, be it a hotel, restaurant or or venue, has enacted recommended hygiene and safety procedures to protect against virus.

idea has been a big success in a desperate sector that accounts for 15% of Portugal’s gross domestic product and 9% of country’s jobs. online classes needed to obtain seal are being attended by around 4,000 people a week.

“It’s a question of making people feel safe to travel and having confidence in place where y’re going,” said Luís Araújo, president of government ncy Turismo de Portugal

Portugal lies at opposite end of Mediterranean Sea from Cyprus, but its challenge is same: how to reconcile social distancing and hygiene rules with fun and relaxation.

“Restrictions scare away any tourist,” Araújo ackwledged.

Portuguese government says discoques will be last places to open, but many hotels intend to start reopening June 1.

Among changes being adopted: Guests will t check into ir rooms until 24 hours after last occupant has checked out, to allow time for thorough cleaning and airing of . Waiting for sunbeds may come to an end as some hotel guests will get one for ir own exclusive use. Buffets are unlikely to be offered, but room service is expected to thrive.

Ar challenge is how to reopen sourn Europe's famous beaches.

Portugal has come up with a plan to get people back on sand starting on June 6. Sunbars must stay 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart, with umbrellas at least 3 meters (10 feet) apart. New signs and an app will use a traffic-light system of red, yellow and green indicating which beaches are full, partly full or have few people. Paddle boats and water slides will be prohibited.

In an attempt to shore up public confidence, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa went to his local cafe for morning coffee and had lunch at a Lisbon restaurant with speaker of parliament on Monday, first day those businesses reopened after a lockdown.

Even with all efforts to make tourists feel safe, worries about coronavirus are t going away.

U.K. personal trainer Kenny Dyer canceled an Easter vacation in Cyprus and is hopeful of venturing back in October. But Dyer attached a condition that governments may find hard to guarantee.

“I wouldn’t want to fly somewhere where re’s a sudden spike in coronavirus cases, and I would have to be quarantined abroad,” Dyer said.