Bulgaria was among the hardest hit by COVID, and still required proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID or a negative COVID test to enter the country as of July 2021.
Conversely, in Greece, where 20% of the population is employed in the tourism sector, most travel restrictions were lifted in spring 2021 and inbound visitors from 53 approved countries could enter the country without having to quarantine.
Russia eased many of its COVID-related restrictions in May 2020, and its residents were quick to book domestic trips, such as to Sochi's beaches or cultural excursions in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Domestic travel has, in fact, been a lifeline for several Eastern Europe travel markets, where COVID vaccination rates remain stubbornly low.
In Russia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, for example, less than 20% of each country's population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by early August 2021. With a history of living behind the Soviet Union's "Iron Curtain," many Eastern Europeans have a strong desire to travel despite the risks.
Residents of the region's densely populated capitals, including Moscow, Prague, Budapest and Warsaw, have used frequent weekend getaways to scenic forests, beaches and mountains to satisfy their wanderlust.