Tourists stranded abroad as countries shut their borders
TOURISTS from Wales were left stranded all over the world due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Welsh people have headed off all over the globe, touching down in places such as the USA, Peru and Spain, only to find their return flights cancelled, leaving them stranded.
Other countries are currently in lockdown, with cafes, bars and restaurants closed, other than for deliveries, with differing advice to what we’ve been told in the UK.
Three Welshmen were stuck in Los Angeles last week, unsure if they would be able to fly home from the States.
Carl Twinney, 26, from Bridgend, is in America with Will Roberts, 19, also from Bridgend, and CJ Jackson, 37, from Carmarthen.
The trio flew out for a holiday, as well as to produce YouTube content and meet up with American creators.
“It’s very possible we’re stranded in LA until further notice,” said Carl.
“We flew out to LA on Saturday, March 15 afternoon from Heathrow and found out mid-flight that the US travel ban had been extended to cover the UK and Ireland. We didn’t know if we were going to be allowed into the country when we landed and if we were granted entry, it was unclear when we’d be allowed to leave.
“There were a number of sick people on our flight, coughing and sneezing, that made us fairly nervous.
“One passenger had to be quarantined at the back of the plane for the majority of the flight, then when we landed paramedics came on board and escorted the passenger off. It was pretty terrifying.”
Mr Twinney added: “So far we’ve had no communication from the airline about if our return flight – on March 28 – will go ahead as planned and communication from the UK-based guidelines on travel hasn’t been that clear either.”
He said that in LA they’ve locked down gyms, cinemas, bars, clubs and restaurants are limited to take-outs or you can get food delivered.
“They now recommend keeping a distance of six feet between you and other people outside,” he added.
“A lot of people seem to be ignoring that as we went to Santa Monica today and everyone’s just sort of getting on with life as normal as if nothing has really happened which was odd.”
“The general feel over here is that the UK should’ve gone on lockdown towards the end of last week,” said Mr Twinney.
“We’re a little apprehensive to return to the UK because we feel like we’d be at more risk of catching the coronavirus back home in the UK than we would in LA.”
One woman from Swansea was forced to live like Tom Hanks in the 2004 film The Terminal, after being left stuck in a Spanish airport
Beth Jones, 23, and her boyfriend James Waun, also 23, were told they would have no problems heading to Fuerteventura and returning back home.
Hotels have been forced to close their doors due to the outbreak of the virus and the couple have had little option but to find refuge at the airport in the same way the Hollywood actor did in the movie The Terminal.
Beth’s bus driver father Wayne Jones, 57, said his daughter had been in tears that she was unable to come home.
But easyJet said they were doing all they could to help bring customers back to the UK.
On Saturday, March 15, just after 10pm, Tom Renny and his friend were told the Peruvian government had declared a state of emergency.
Mr Renny had just arrived in the tourist hotspot of Cusco, when the entire country went into lockdown.
“We didn’t really know what it meant at the time,” said Mr Renny.
“But then we realised it would mean staying inside our hostel for 15 days. All the borders to get out were shut.”
Mr Renny, 19, from Moylegrove in Pembrokeshire, said: “Police are roaming the streets and the army are walking around with guns. It’s eerie there’s nobody on the streets. It’s really weird – Cusco is such a busy touristy place but it’s so quiet.”
Mr Renny, and friend Oran Fudge, left the UK on January 31 to travel to Santiago, through Chile, Bolivia and into Peru before arriving in Cusco. Because the decision to close the borders came at such short notice, the pair were unable to get out of the city, finding most flights were either cancelled or fully booked.
The embassy has since advised them not to travel and also closed its doors, Mr Renny claimed.
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