March 12, 2020

Contact: Erika Ritcher
pr@asta.org

President Trump announces suspension of travel from Europe

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2020) — In response to the ongoing coronavirus situation on Wednesday evening, President Trump announced that travel by foreign nationals to the United States from 26 European countries would be prohibited for 30 days beginning on Friday, March 13 at midnight.  The news came on the heels of the announcement by the World Health Organization hours earlier declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. The new restrictions do not apply to the United Kingdom. U.S. citizens traveling in Europe will be exempt, but American travelers will have to undergo screenings before they come back to the U.S. The order also does not prohibit travel by legal permanent residents and the immediate family members of U.S. citizens. 

ASTA is diligently working with policy makers in both the Trump Administration and in Congress to obtain a variety of relief options to help advisors, and the travel industry as a whole, weather this storm. We will, of course, keep ASTA members fully apprised of the latest developments in this rapidly evolving situation. 

Information will continue to be updated at www.asta.org. 

ABOUT ASTA
Rebranded in 2018 as the American Society of Travel Advisors, ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. Its members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with hundreds of internationally-based members, ASTA’s history of industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information about the Society, visit ASTA.org. Consumers can connect with an ASTA travel advisor at TravelSense.org.