Spain “Delighted” To Welcome Back British Tourists From May 24th

The Spanish government has announced that it is lifting restrictions for travellers from the UK from Monday 24th May.

Speaking at the flagship FITUR travel fair in Madrid, the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said that the full list of countries will be published on the governments BOE Official Gazette and that: “I am pleased to inform you that the ministerial order will be officially published today exempting citizens from the UK and other countries ( Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and China)  from temporary restrictions for non-essential trips to Spain,” and that the country “will be delighted to receive British tourists again.”

Travellers from those countries will not need to show a vaccine or PCR test to enter Spain.

Presently only Spanish citizens and official residents are allowed to enter the country from the UK.

Under the UK governments “traffic light” system – Spain is classed as “amber” meaning that non-essential travel is strongly discouraged and returning tourists need quarantine for 10 days on their return – as well as take two PCR rests.

Gibraltar and Portugal are on the “green list” – with the former declaring itself “Covid-free” last week.

The border between Spain and the two territories is open for travellers.

Earlier the EU  said that visitors should be allowed from countries which have an incidence rate of below 75 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and is expected to announce a “white list” of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter.

Last week, the EU agreed further technicalities of the EU Digital Covid Certificate with the hope that it will be operational by early summer.

Pedro Sanchez highlighted that Spain will independently allow vaccinated visitors from outside the EU – including the United Sates, from June 7th.

The Spanish tourist industry is hoping to recover from the catastrophe of 2020 which saw visitor numbers and income plummet to levels not seen since the 1960s.

In 2019 the tourist sector contributed nearly 14% of Spain´s GDP.

The British tourist market is Spain´s largest with 18 million Britons visiting the country in 2019.

 

 

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