Costa BLOCKED-a! Spanish tourism minister dashes holiday dreams for thousands of Britons after saying UK government must ‘improve’ its Covid record BEFORE they will be allowed in
- Spain’s tourism minister Maria Reyes Maroto said UK must improve Covid-19 rate
- The prospect of Brits returning to Spanish beaches in next two weeks dashed
- German and Nordic countries most likely to be involved in tourism ‘test-run’
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Brits’ hopes of holidaying abroad have been dashed as the Spanish tourism minister says the UK must ‘improve’ its situation with coronavirus before tourists are allowed back.
Maria Reyes Maroto said British tourists will not be among those participating in a proposed trial-run for allowing tourists back into the country.
The first tourism test-run is due to take place in two weeks, ahead of the reopening of Spanish borders to holidaymakers from July 1.
Instead, she said tourists from Germany and the Nordic countries were the most likely to be permitted entry for the trial.
Brits hopes of travelling to Spain for a holiday have been dashed as the Spanish tourism minister said the UK must improve its UK record
Maria Reyes Maroto said the Spanishand regional governments had been in talks with holiday providers TUI and Jet2holidays
The tourism minister said the Spanish and regional government were in talks with holiday providers TUI and Jet2holidays about the prospect of Brits returning to the country.
The Mirror reported she told Spanish media the likelihood of holidaymakers from the UK being the first to visit Spain were slim: ‘There the health situation still has to improve.
‘For us it is important to guarantee that people arrive healthy and leave healthy.’
The suggestion of a ‘test-run’ for the return of tourists to the county is yet to be approved by the government but if it does get the go-ahead Mrs Reyes Maroto said Germany and the Nordic countries were most likely to be first because their ‘epidemiological situations are very good.’
Mrs Reyes Maroto said Germany and the Nordic countries were most likely to be the first to return as beaches in usually bustling tourist towns such as Menorca (pictured) are left emptier than usual
The regional government in the Balearic Islands has been pressing for the trial-run return of tourists, with plans to commence the first entry from June 16.
In its plans it has been campaigning for Madrid to allow 3,000 German holidaymakers to visit the islands.
Also included in the proposed test-run are the Canary Islands and Mrs Reyes Maroto also has plans to incorporate areas such as Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol if the regional governments wish to be involved.
Restrictions in Benidorm and Marbella are expected to be reduced tomorrow with the prospect of reopening beaches.
However, Benidorm mayor Toni Perez made the decision to keep beaches closed until mid-June.
Disco INFERNAL! Spanish nightclub bosses in holiday hotspots are furious after government says they CANNOT open along with bars, restaurants and cafés in next lockdown-easing phase
Nightclubs and discos across Spain have been told they can’t open yet as the Spanish government does a U-turn on its easing of lockdown plan.
Owners have likened the change of heart to ‘having a jug of water thrown over us’ as they will have to wait anything up to one month to reopen their doors.
Nighlife Spain published extensive guidelines on how clubs and discos, especially in holiday hotspots, could deal with the crowds in a post-coronavirus era.
The Spanish government made a U-turn on its decision to allow clubs to reopen in phase three of easing lockdown rules
The guidance included clubbers dancing in their own squares, the compulsory wearing of masks, drinking through ecological straws and ‘traffic lights’ to control entrances.
As many regions in the country head into phase three of easing restrictions the Spanish government had previously said clubs could open provided there were limits on capacity.
But the decision was reversed yesterday even though cafes, pubs and restaurants are now open.
Nighlife Spain has voiced its ‘incomprehension and perplexity’ at the decision and has demanded direct talks with the Ministry of Health.
They want to get a new agreement before the majority of the country enters phase three from June 8th.
The Spanish government hasn’t explained why clubs and discos must remain closed at the moment but not all of Spain’s nightlife disagrees with the decision.
The Balearics asked to enter phase three without opening clubs as the islands’ government did not think it was ready to do so because of the risk to health.
Places allowed to open with restrictions as Spain enters phase three:
- Bingo halls
- Museums
- Zoos
- Aquariums
- Nature tourism
- Wakes
- Burials
- Shopping centres
- Markets
- Sports