At the meeting, it was agreed to review self-isolation rules among the three Baltic States to facilitate travel conditions. Currently, people arriving in Lithuania are subject to a 10-day self-isolation period.
‘Accommodation, catering and tourism business faces huge challenges. In May last year, a ‘travel bubble’ was established among the Baltic States so Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened borders without mandatory self-isolation. This has greatly helped the accommodation, catering and other sectors, opened opportunities for businesses and served a good example of regional cooperation. Unfortunately, with increasing numbers of infected cases the bubble was abandoned in September last year; now however it is absolutely necessary to look for ways to create favourable travel conditions for people and businesses,’ says Minister of the Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė.
Figures show that last year’s ‘travel bubble’ proved to be a success; according to the data of Travel Lithuania, in Q3 of last year Lithuania received almost 62 thousand tourists from Latvia and Estonia.
According to the Minister, more flexible tourism conditions for citizens of the Baltic States and the launch of the National Certificate in Lithuania should be important initiatives to help the health and tourism sectors in the Baltic States.
The National Certificate launched on 24 May will be available to three groups of people in Lithuania, including vaccinated individuals, those who have had a coronovirus or have a negative COVID-19 test result.
Also, in this transitional period before the launch of the EU Digital Green Certificate, foreign tourists in Lithuania will be able to produce a document testifying vaccination issued by another country. Foreigners will be able to receive the services allowed by the National Certificate with a negative coronavirus test result carried out in Lithuania.
The National Certificate offers a possibility to eat inside restaurants, cafes and other catering establishments, as well as participate in various events both indoors and outdoors.
