Germany has extended its advice to citizens warning against global travel “for unnecessary and touristic reasons” until August 31.

The EU countries, Schengen members and the UK are exempt from the travel warning, the German Foreign Office said in a statement.

The country first issued advice warning citizens against tourist travel worldwide on March 17.

“Unlike our European neighbours, for the rest of the world we do not yet have the common, reliable databases, criteria and coordination processes that make unrestricted travel possible again without incalculable risks,” the statement published Wednesday says.

“We cannot and will not risk that Germans will be again stranded all over the world in summer or that vacationers will carry the virus to Germany undetected.

“At the same time, we are very aware that many citizens want to travel outside of Europe again as quickly as possible.

“This affects vacation destinations in Turkey and North Africa but also Southeast Asia and America. The point at which such trips are also justifiable again for tourist purposes will depend on the course of the pandemic.”

Germany will lift border controls with France, Austria, Denmark and Sweden next week

Germany will lift its border controls with neighbours France, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark on June 15, German interior minister Horst Seehofer said today.

New arrivals from Italy will also no longer have to go through border controls, though the two countries do not share a physical border.

The controls will be relaxed for travellers arriving from Spain by plane starting on June 21, Seehofer added.

The easing of restrictions comes as the country slowly rolls back its strictest lockdown measures.