TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time in over a year, Tampa International Airport will be welcoming international travelers from 33 countries on Monday.

What You Need To Know

  • Major airports around the country are expecting large crowds 

  • Tourists coming into the U.S. must be fully vaccinated

  • Children under 18 years old are not required to be vaccinated

  • Traveling outside the U.S. has faced challenges with ever-changing COVID restrictions

“It’s awesome, I think it’s a good opportunity for people to go out and spread their wings,” says traveler Robere Istatia.

Istatia just came back from a trip to Curacao to see family whom he has never met before.

“I got to see my cousins I’ve never seen, my aunts and uncles … it was amazing,” he says.

With the international travel ban set to be lifted, the Biden administration stated it is expecting a massive amount of people in major airports throughout the country.

But with all this travel, also comes concern.

“It’s just been a nightmare navigating everything,” says Chelsea Rabeiro, owner of Chellax Adventures Travel Agency in Tampa. “With all the uncertainty in other countries, it would be best to book your travel with an agency that keeps up with all the changes.”

Rabeiro says as Americans try to book international vacations, the biggest hurdle are the ever-changing COVID restrictions in various countries.

“In some places, even if you have your vaccine, and your PCR test, you still have to quarantine for five to 10 days,” says Rabeiro. “And even that could change in 24 hours.”

For tourists entering the United States, all adults must be fully vaccinated.

Those under 18 are not required to have the vaccine.

Airlines are also implementing contact tracing, and PCR tests.