Recently, countries like Greece, Portugal and Spain have increased the age limit, concerning tests to enter their territory, to 12 years old. Others, like Sweden, have set it at 18, Denmark at 15, Switzerland at 16, France and England, at 11 years old. Giving a little more freedom to our children seems crucial. Moreover, at a time when Europe seems to be settling on a gradual return to normalcy, the path taken by Luxembourg is generating public misunderstanding and seriously complicating the daily lives of travelers and tourism professionals.

Inflicting additional obligations on children, who were not considered to be people at risk during this pandemic and who were particularly impacted psychologically by the health crisis, due to this extremely anxiety-provoking atmosphere, amounts to asking them to do even more efforts than their elders who, thanks to vaccines, are no longer subject to these restrictions.

Going on vacation today represents a relief for many of them as much as for their loved ones. However, the obligation to be tested is definitely perceived by children as a painful, complex process and clearly represents a barrier to travel, not only in terms of organization for families but also in terms of the additional costs burdening them. Let us also underline the inequality resulting from this decision, as it is possible to reach Luxembourg freely by land (train, bus or car) without having to present a test.

Currently, the tourism sector is, without a doubt, facing its biggest challenge in decades and needs support for a rapid recovery. Many families have already booked their holidays this summer to Greece, Portugal or Spain. Luxair has put everything in place to offer them a service combining quality, flexibility and serenity and is thus launching a major promotional campaign for its LUXiClub, destined to families and children, in order to give them again happy and joyful emotions and help them forget, during the holidays, the heavy impact of this crisis.

In order not to further penalize travelers traveling by plane and tourism professionals, the ULAV and Luxair therefore appeal to the goodwill of the Luxembourg authorities to work towards a homogenization of the rules and therefore, raise the age limit, for carrying out tests, to 14 years when accompanied by their parents.