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Sweden has comparatively lax rules against the corona virus. So there are many freedoms - also for tourists. And they are very welcome. Only the risk may not be without it.
By Carsten Schmiester, ARD Studio Stockholm
"Because Sweden doesn't have such strict Corona restrictions, we thought it would be nice to visit Scandinavia and went there. We are happy about the open border. It feels like a normal trip."
The Swedes like to hear something like this: A young German tourist is happy about the openness of the country on the SVT and enjoys the freedom here. Landlords and also a large shipping company with their Baltic Sea ferries advertise for Sweden: Everything here is different, better and of course in order.
However, the Swedes themselves are currently rather undesirable as holidaymakers with their Nordic neighbors and in parts of other European countries - because of the loose corona measures, the comparatively high number of deaths and few tests that make it difficult, the real extent of the pandemic serious in the country.
The government has therefore asked all citizens not to move more than two hours' drive from their homes during the summer holidays. But then why are tourists allowed to come and move freely around the country?
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell says: "This can be strange, but I do not think that the risk of corona spreading is particularly great. The question is being discussed politically and I hope that there will soon be a uniform line to summer vacation in the United States EU there. "
He sees it from a Swedish perspective and does not assume that the corona virus will be introduced again by Germany, for example. But what if German vacationers get infected? Then they would be entitled to medical care, says Tegnell.
If there is a supply. The island of Gotland, for example, indicates that its health system is only designed for a few thousand people. And the Stockholm archipelago shipping company warns of unnecessary journeys due to - for reasons of distance - reduced space. It could happen that you could get sick and no longer be brought back to the mainland from one of the many small islands and be stuck without a doctor.
But according to Tegnell, this is not likely: "We believe that summer will be relatively calm if everyone continues to follow our recommendations. The big question is what will come in autumn. It can develop very differently depending on the region."
But in autumn the tourist season is over and the money with holidaymakers that so many hope for is earned - as is Nisse Åkesson, who rents canoes south of Gothenburg. "There will be no restrictions for tourists. We hope that they take their responsibilities seriously and only come if they are healthy. Apart from that, they should also be outdoors - not where many people are."
For days now there has been a constant flow of new crowds in the Stockholm bars and on the archipelago. And about the fact that more and more, and not only young people, hardly adhere to the few recommendations. A vacation in Sweden despite Corona therefore offers both: more vacation quality, especially in the country, but also a higher risk of infection, especially in the cities.
