15 Countries Open to U.S. Tourists Despite Global Bans – Idyllic Pursuit

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Summer 2020 was brutal for American travelers. On June 30, the European Union slammed its doors on U.S. tourists, citing America’s COVID-19 surge that topped 50,000 daily cases. Americans suddenly joined travelers from Russia and Brazil on the global no-fly list. But 15 countries saw opportunity where others saw risk (some appeared on the EU’s exclusive safe list of just 14 approved nations, while others like Serbia and Mexico threw open their doors independently, betting on American tourism dollars when the rest of the world wouldn’t).

Serbia – Balkan Maverick

While the European Union officially banned American travelers on June 30, 2020, Serbia made the bold choice to keep its borders wide open throughout the entire pandemic. This wasn’t just hospitality (it was economic survival, as tourism accounts for a significant portion of the country’s GDP). Belgrade, the capital, pulses with Europe’s most vibrant nightlife scene, where floating river clubs called splavovi host parties until dawn. Beyond the cities, medieval monasteries dating back to the 12th century perch dramatically on cliffsides, while Tara National Park showcases some of the continent’s most pristine wilderness.

Montenegro – EU Approved Adriatic Jewel

This tiny Balkan nation punches far above its weight in natural beauty and earned a coveted spot on the EU’s approved travel list, becoming one of only 14 countries worldwide deemed safe enough for international tourism during the pandemic’s peak. The Bay of Kotor, often called Europe’s southernmost fjord, features dramatic limestone cliffs plunging into crystalline waters, with medieval towns like Kotor and Perast seemingly frozen in time. What makes Montenegro truly special is its incredible diversity packed into a country smaller than Connecticut (you can ski in the mountains and swim in the Adriatic Sea on the same day).

Croatia – First Mover Island Paradise

Croatia made history as one of the first European Union countries to officially reopen to U.S. visitors in early summer 2020, demonstrating that effective pandemic management could coexist with tourism. The country implemented strict health protocols including testing and health screenings that allowed Americans to safely explore again. The country’s 1,244 islands dot the Dalmatian coast like emeralds scattered across sapphire waters, each with its own character. Dubrovnik’s limestone streets earned Game of Thrones fame, while Plitvice Lakes National Park showcases 16 terraced lakes connected by cascading waterfalls that create a turquoise wonderland.

Aruba – Caribbean Health Protocol Pioneer

Aruba became one of the Caribbean’s most organized reopeners on July 1, 2020, implementing comprehensive health protocols including mandatory travel insurance covering COVID-19 and testing requirements that set the gold standard for safe tourism. This Dutch Caribbean island sits outside the hurricane belt, guaranteeing year-round sunshine with less than 20 inches of annual rainfall. The iconic Divi-Divi trees, permanently bent by constant trade winds, create Instagram-worthy silhouettes against spectacular sunsets. Eagle Beach consistently ranks among the world’s best beaches with powder-soft white sand and calm turquoise waters perfect for swimming.

St. Lucia – Early Caribbean Reopener

St. Lucia earned distinction as one of the Caribbean’s earliest reopeners on June 4, 2020, welcoming Americans when most destinations remained shuttered. The island’s low COVID-19 case count and strong health infrastructure gave it confidence to welcome tourists safely. The twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton) are ancient volcanic plugs rising 2,600 feet directly from the sea, creating one of the Caribbean’s most photographed landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island’s volcanic origins mean visitors can actually drive into a collapsed volcano crater at Sulphur Springs and bathe in mineral-rich hot springs.

Dominican Republic – Testing-Free Pioneer

The Dominican Republic opened its doors to Americans on July 1, 2020, and made waves by becoming one of the first Caribbean destinations to completely eliminate testing requirements by September, making travel remarkably easy when other nations added restrictions. This nation shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and offers extraordinary diversity (from the Caribbean’s highest peak, Pico Duarte at 10,164 feet, to Lake Enriquillo at 131 feet below sea level). Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone preserves the oldest European settlement in the Americas, where Christopher Columbus’s son once lived in a palace that still stands today.

Jamaica – Never-Closed Island Haven

Jamaica maintained remarkably open borders for U.S. tourists throughout the global travel ban, recognizing that American visitors represent the island’s tourism lifeblood and choosing economic pragmatism over closure. This is where Bob Marley’s music was born, and his spirit still permeates everything from roadside jerk chicken stands to beachside bars where locals and tourists dance together. The Blue Mountains rise to 7,402 feet and produce some of the world’s most expensive coffee, with beans selling for up to $50 per pound due to the perfect growing conditions. Dunn’s River Falls offers the rare chance to climb a 600-foot cascading waterfall.

St. Maarten – Dual-Nation Island

Welcoming Americans from August 1, 2020, St. Maarten offered tourists a unique two-for-one experience as the world’s smallest landmass shared by two nations. The island implemented health screenings and testing protocols that balanced safety with tourism needs. Maho Beach became world-famous when jaw-dropping photos of massive jets roaring just feet overhead went viral, as Princess Juliana International Airport’s runway begins right at the beach’s edge. The island’s 37 square miles contain Dutch and French territories, meaning you can have breakfast in the Netherlands, lunch in France, and never need a passport to cross the border.

Morocco – EU Approved North African Gateway

Morocco earned a prestigious spot on the European Union’s exclusive approved travel list, becoming one of only 14 countries worldwide deemed safe enough for international tourism during the pandemic’s peak. The country’s effective COVID-19 management and testing infrastructure impressed EU evaluators. Marrakech’s medina contains the world’s largest traditional market, where 40,000 artisans create everything from hand-tooled leather to intricate metalwork in the same workshops their families have occupied for centuries. The Sahara Desert experiences are legendary (riding camels across towering dunes to luxury camps where Berber hospitality includes star-filled skies).

Rwanda – Conservation Success Story

Rwanda earned placement on the EU’s approved list and welcomed U.S. travelers during the pandemic, offering access to one of the planet’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences (mountain gorilla trekking). The country’s exceptional pandemic response, including contact tracing apps and strict protocols, gave international authorities confidence in its safety measures. Only about 1,000 mountain gorillas remain in the wild worldwide, and Rwanda protects roughly one-third of them in Volcanoes National Park, where American primatologist Dian Fossey conducted her groundbreaking research. Trekking permits cost $1,500 per person, but this conservation funding has helped increase gorilla populations by 25%.

Tunisia – EU Approved Ancient Wonder

Tunisia appeared on the EU’s exclusive approved travel list of just 14 countries and opened to Americans during the global travel ban, providing access to some of the Mediterranean’s most impressive Roman ruins without the crowds found at similar Italian sites. The ancient city of Carthage, once Rome’s greatest rival, sprawls across hilltops overlooking the brilliant blue Mediterranean, where Hannibal plotted his famous elephant march across the Alps. El Djem’s Roman amphitheater ranks as the world’s third-largest, incredibly well-preserved and capable of seating 35,000 spectators for gladiatorial games. Star Wars fans make pilgrimages to Matmata’s underground cave dwellings.

South Korea – Pandemic Management Model

South Korea made the European Union’s exclusive approved safe travel list during the pandemic, recognized globally for its exceptional handling of public health through aggressive testing and contact tracing while maintaining tourism opportunities. Seoul seamlessly blends 600-year-old palaces with futuristic skyscrapers (you can watch traditional changing-of-the-guard ceremonies at Gyeongbokgung Palace in the morning, then explore the neon-lit Gangnam district made famous by Psy’s viral song at night). The country’s high-speed KTX trains reach 190 mph, whisking visitors from Seoul to Busan’s beaches in just two and a half hours. Korean culture has exploded globally through K-pop and K-dramas.

Thailand – Southeast Asian Safe Haven

Thailand appeared on the EU’s prestigious approved list and welcomed international tourists during global travel restrictions, recognized for effective pandemic management that made it one of Asia’s safest destinations. Bangkok’s Grand Palace complex contains over 100 buildings spanning 200,000 square meters, with the Emerald Buddha temple housing Thailand’s most sacred religious artifact carved from a single block of jade. The country’s 1,430 islands range from party-centric Phuket to tranquil Koh Lanta, with Maya Bay in Krabi serving as the filming location for “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Thai cuisine ranks among the world’s best.

Turkey – Independent Gateway Between Continents

Turkey kept its doors open to American tourists throughout 2020, choosing to maintain its vital tourism industry despite global uncertainty. The country implemented health screenings at airports and offered free COVID-19 testing to arriving passengers, balancing safety with accessibility. Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus strait, where Byzantine mosaics glitter inside the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia. Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape features fairy chimneys and underground cities carved eight levels deep. Hot air balloon rides at sunrise over this lunar-like terrain create bucket-list moments, while ancient ruins at Ephesus showcase one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities.

Mexico – America’s Closest Lifeline

Mexico never closed its borders to American tourists throughout the entire pandemic, making it the most accessible international destination for U.S. travelers seeking escape. This strategic decision recognized that American tourists spend roughly $25 billion annually in Mexico, and closing borders would devastate coastal communities from Cancún to Cabo. The country’s 67 federally protected national parks range from Copper Canyon, which is actually larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon, to the underwater sculpture museum off Cancún’s coast. Ancient Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá feature the Temple of Kukulcán, designed so precisely that equinoxes create serpent shadow illusions.

When the World Said No, 15 Countries Said Yes

These 15 countries didn’t just keep their doors open (they proved that smart pandemic management, economic necessity, and calculated risk could triumph over blanket travel bans). While the EU’s 27 nations turned away Americans and lost billions in tourism revenue, these destinations captured that spending and welcomed stranded travelers. Some earned spots on the EU’s exclusive 14-country approved list through exceptional health protocols, while others made independent decisions driven by tourism-dependent economies. From Caribbean beaches to Balkan coastlines, African safaris to Asian temples, these nations demonstrated that “global bans” weren’t quite as global as headlines suggested.​

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