Iceland is one of the countries to emerge “relatively well” from this pandemic. Its small population and effective methods of screening and combating Covid-19 have contributed greatly to this. With “only” 10 deaths out of more than 1,800 cases tested positive, Iceland is already gradually recovering from the crisis so much so that it is already possible to stay there this summer.
Icelandic borders have never been closed to the EU
After fishing, tourism is the economic pillar of Iceland. As a result, the country invested very early in literally paralyzing the tourist activities of hundreds of countries around the world. While borders have been closed and air connections suspended in many destinations, this has never been the case in Iceland, at least not for European Union nationals.
By leaving its borders open, Iceland has managed to never stop tourist activities despite drops in attendance which have been completely understandable. However, all people who enter Iceland are systematically quarantined for 14 days.
During the pandemic, buses carrying tourists continued to crisscross the country. Of course, specific measures have been taken, in particular the wearing of masks and the blocking of one in two chairs on buses.
Iceland also showed a lot of anticipation and rigor in handling the situation. 15% of the population were able to be tested and of the 1,802 people infected (figures from May 14, 2024), the country deplores “only” 10 deaths. And currently, Iceland is one of the first countries to already prepare for the arrival of tourists this summer. The Iceland Explora website and similar platforms are once again taken over by travelers looking for information useful to their stay. Indeed, the Icelandic authorities have already put in place a tourist reception strategy adapted to the exceptional situation of this end of the health crisis.
Mandatory tests and tracking application
From June 15, Icelandic authorities will require travelers entering the country to take a Covid-19 screening test, the results of which will be known after one day. Travelers will then have to wait in their hotel and if the test is positive, the person concerned will have to isolate for 14 days. Each traveler will also have to download Ranking-C19, a tracking application allowing the authorities to trace their journey during their stay. People who can present a medical certificate attesting to their good health will not have to go through these formalities.
Despite these reassuring measures put in place, departures to Iceland obviously depend on the evolution of the situation in Europe. Many agencies specializing in this destination, for example, do not plan to reopen their offers before the beginning of July.
In any case, once there, tourists will be able to discover all the attractions of this land of ice and fire. All hotels and restaurants notably remained in business even at the height of the crisis. The swimming pools, for their part, have once again welcomed the general public since May 18. Gatherings are even possible again for up to 200 people. And a fact which was widely reported on the web, the nightclubs have also reopened their doors, in particular the B5, an essential address in Reykjavik. The only parameter that could interfere with the preparations for your summer stay in Iceland would be the flights. These are the quickest ways to get there, but will the companies that provide air connections to Iceland already resume regular service?
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