MADRID (SPAIN) – Spain said on Saturday it would allow in British tourists from Sunday without mandating they spend two weeks in quarantine, opening up its tourism sector which was hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
“We will allow British visitors to enter Spain just like the rest of the European Union or Schengen area from 21 June freely and without the need for the quarantine,” foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told BBC News.
Spain will revoke the emergency imposed on March 14, on Sunday, and will open its borders to EU and Schengen area countries to boost its tourism industry.
Gonzalez Laya said tourists from the UK would be subject to the same “triple check” as other European visitors. It comprises checking their origin, taking their temperature and taking contact details in case they need to be traced.
“We want to make sure we welcome visitors but do so in safety and security for them as well as for Spaniards,” she said.
Spain is holding discussions over whether the UK will similarly lift quarantine measures for Spaniards, she said. The country is opening its borders “out of respect for the 400,000 British citizens who have second residences in Spain” and who are “dying to benefit” from them.
On the other hand, the UK’s current quarantine measures, requiring two weeks of self-isolation for most visitors, may well put off some potential travellers.
Britain is expected to review its 14-day quarantine rule on June 29, three weeks after it was introduced.
According to a British government spokesman, its position on quarantine for people entering the country remains unchanged.
“International travel corridors remain an option under consideration by the UK government, not established policy,” the spokesman said. “Conversations take place regularly with governments around the world on a whole range of issues and we will not be providing any further details at this stage.”
Britons account for more than a fifth of the roughly 80 million tourists visiting Spain every year.
Britain, which has reported more than COVID 42,500 deaths, and Spain, with over 28,300 fatalities, are among the countries hardest hit by COVID-19.
Spain will open its border with Portugal on July 1.
On Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, warned Spaniards not to drop their guard because the virus could return.
“Each of us can be a wall in front of the virus or a route of contagion, it depends on each of us,” he said.
Spain, which implemented one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns that saw people confined to their homes for nearly two months, has been easing restrictions in recent weeks.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field