Photos show what tourism at popular attractions around the world looks like during a pandemic

Sophie-Claire HoellerAug 6, 2020, 04:24 IST

People wearing face masks take a selfie at Trocadero Square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on May 16, 2020.Gonzalo Fuentes /Reuters

More countries and attractions around the world are opening back up to tourism.
With face-mask requirements, social distancing, and travel bans in effect, once-packed tourist attractions look a little different these days.
It's worth noting that nonessential travel is still discouraged in many places — including the US, where the CDC warns against it — due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Around the world, countries and tourist attractions are reopening after months of being closed thanks to the coronavirus, and tourism is slowly making a comeback.

And yet, with social distancing and masks requirements in place in many parts of the world, as well as travel bans and warnings in effect — such as in the US, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against it — once-packed attractions are looking a little different these days.

Keep scrolling to see what tourism looks like at some of the world's most popular attractions.

After four months of being closed, Walt Disney World in Florida reopened on July 11, amid rising cases of the coronavirus in the state. Visitors and cast members are required to wear masks, according to Insider.

Visitors at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, on its reopening day on July 11, 2020. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

After four months of being closed, Walt Disney World in Florida reopened on July 11, amid rising cases of the coronavirus in the state. Visitors and cast members are required to wear masks, according to Insider.

Las Vegas casinos reopened on June 4, with safety measures such as plexiglass shields, handwashing stations, and mask requirements in place, according to Business Insider.

Eloina Marquez cleans the protective plexiglass dividers at a blackjack table in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020. Reuters

Las Vegas casinos reopened on June 4, with safety measures such as plexiglass shields, handwashing stations, and mask requirements in place, according to Business Insider.

The Louvre museum in Paris, France, reopened on July 6. According to NPR, masks are required, there's an online-only reservation system, distance markers on the floor, and a one-way path guests must follow through the museum.

Visitors, wearing protective face masks, take a selfie in front of the "Mona Lisa" at the Louvre museum in Paris, France, on its reopening day on July 6, 2020. Charles Platiau/Reuters

The Louvre museum in Paris, France, reopened on July 6. According to NPR, masks are required, there's an online-only reservation system, distance markers on the floor, and a one-way path guests must follow through the museum.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, reopened June 25, after three months — its longest closure since WWII, per NPR.

People walk up the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on its reopening day on June 25, 2020. Charles Platiau/Reuters

According to NPR, the Eiffel Tower was initially stairs-only, and the top deck remained closed until late July.

People wearing face masks take a selfie at Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France on May 16, 2020, before it reopened. Gonzalo Fuentes /Reuters

Liberty Island reopened alongside other outdoor attractions as part of Phase 4 in New York City in late July, according to CBS. Masks and social distancing are required.

A woman at the Statue of Liberty in New York City, New York, on July 20, 2020. Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Liberty Island reopened alongside other outdoor attractions as part of Phase 4 in New York City in late July, according to CBS. Masks and social distancing are required.

This photo of a Canadian and American tourist boat at Niagara Falls went viral for showing how the countries are responding to the pandemic differently. The American boat is packed, while the Canadian one has a handful of guests.

American tourist boat Maid Of The Mist next to its Canadian counterpart Hornblower in Niagara Falls on July 21, 2020. Carlos Osorio/Reuters

This photo of a Canadian and American tourist boat at Niagara Falls went viral for showing how the countries are responding to the pandemic differently. The American boat is packed, while the Canadian one has a handful of guests.

On June 3, Italy became the first European country to open its borders to international visitors, per Afar, despite having seen one of Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks, as well as the continent's longest lockdown.

German tourists take a selfie outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on June 16, 2020. Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

On June 3, Italy became the first European country to open its borders to international visitors, per Afar, despite having seen one of Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks, as well as the continent's longest lockdown.

With US travelers still banned from traveling to much of the EU, Italy's tourism sector is struggling, according to CNN. Last year, almost 6 million US travelers visited Italy.

Tourists wearing protective masks take a selfie on the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, on May 24, 2020. Manuel Silvestri/Reuters

With US travelers still banned from traveling to much of the EU, Italy's tourism sector is struggling, according to CNN. Last year, almost 6 million US travelers visited Italy.

Despite having had one of the highest coronavirus death rates in Europe, Spain reopened to tourists in late June, as an Insider article points out.

A tour guide talks with tourists in Barcelona, Spain, on July 17, 2020. Nacho Doce/Reuters

The Grand Palace in Thailand, one of Bangkok's most popular attractions, reopened on June 7 amid the easing of isolation measures, according to the Royal Office.

Local tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7, 2020, on its reopening day. Jorge Silv/Reuters

The Grand Palace saw only a handful of tourists as the country has not yet reopened to international visitors, per CNN.

Local tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7, 2020, on its reopening day. Jorge Silva/Reuters

According to Reuters, international air traffic to Egypt resumed on July 1, and major attractions such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum reopened.

A tourist at the coffin of King Tutankhamen in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, on July 1, 2020, on its reopening day. Mohamed Abd El Ghany./Reuters

At the Great Pyramids of Giza, guests will face temperature checks and must wear masks, per the BBC. Smithsonian Magazine reports that the pyramids got a sanitizing deep clean earlier this year.

A social-distancing marking at the Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, on July 1, 2020, on its reopening day. Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

At the Great Pyramids of Giza, guests will face temperature checks and must wear masks, per the BBC. Smithsonian Magazine reports that the pyramids got a sanitizing deep clean earlier this year.

Chamonix, France, welcomed back visitors as early as May, according to local tourism site See Chamonix.

Tourists in front of the Mont Blanc mountain in Chamonix, France, on July 20, 2020. Denis Balibouse/Reuters

In China, tourists can ride on socially distant rafts along the Yulong river in Yangshuo.

Tourists on the Yulong river in Yangshuo county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, on July 17, 2020. Thomas Suen/Reuters

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Photos show what tourism at popular attractions around the world looks like during a pandemic

After four months of being closed, Walt Disney World in Florida reopened on July 11, amid rising cases of the coronavirus in the state. Visitors and cast members are required to wear masks, according to Insider.

Las Vegas casinos reopened on June 4, with safety measures such as plexiglass shields, handwashing stations, and mask requirements in place, according to Business Insider.

The Louvre museum in Paris, France, reopened on July 6. According to NPR, masks are required, there's an online-only reservation system, distance markers on the floor, and a one-way path guests must follow through the museum.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, reopened June 25, after three months — its longest closure since WWII, per NPR.

According to NPR, the Eiffel Tower was initially stairs-only, and the top deck remained closed until late July.

Liberty Island reopened alongside other outdoor attractions as part of Phase 4 in New York City in late July, according to CBS. Masks and social distancing are required.

This photo of a Canadian and American tourist boat at Niagara Falls went viral for showing how the countries are responding to the pandemic differently. The American boat is packed, while the Canadian one has a handful of guests.

On June 3, Italy became the first European country to open its borders to international visitors, per Afar, despite having seen one of Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks, as well as the continent's longest lockdown.

With US travelers still banned from traveling to much of the EU, Italy's tourism sector is struggling, according to CNN. Last year, almost 6 million US travelers visited Italy.

Despite having had one of the highest coronavirus death rates in Europe, Spain reopened to tourists in late June, as an Insider article points out.

The Grand Palace in Thailand, one of Bangkok's most popular attractions, reopened on June 7 amid the easing of isolation measures, according to the Royal Office.

The Grand Palace saw only a handful of tourists as the country has not yet reopened to international visitors, per CNN.

According to Reuters, international air traffic to Egypt resumed on July 1, and major attractions such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum reopened.

At the Great Pyramids of Giza, guests will face temperature checks and must wear masks, per the BBC. Smithsonian Magazine reports that the pyramids got a sanitizing deep clean earlier this year.

Chamonix, France, welcomed back visitors as early as May, according to local tourism site See Chamonix.

In China, tourists can ride on socially distant rafts along the Yulong river in Yangshuo.