Spain's Tourism Minister has said that the UK's coronavirus record "still has to improve" in major blow to Brits hoping for a holiday abroad.
Speaking about the possibility of foreign tourists being allowed into the Canary Islands as well as the Balearics in two weeks time Maria Reyes Maroto said those tourists won’t be British.
She said that holidaymakers would most likely come from Germany and the Nordic countries if pilot schemes got government approval before Spain opened its border to foreign holidaymakers properly from July 1.
She told Spanish media Spanish and regional government representatives had spoken with the likes of Jet2holidays and TUI.
But in a slap-down for the UK and British holidaymaker hopes of being among the first to return to the Spanish Costas, she was quoted as saying: “There the health situation still has to improve.
“For us it is important to guarantee that people arrive healthy and leave healthy.”
Asked which countries the government was talking to about their nationalities getting first option to return to Spain if the pilot tourist schemes get the go-ahead, she flagged up Germany and the Nordic countries, saying: “At this moment at time their epidemiological situations are very good.”
The Balearics Islands regional government has been leading the way in campaigning for the right to organising a test run with foreign tourists from June 16.
It wants Madrid to sanction the arrival of around 3,000 German tourists who would holiday mainly in Majorca with some being allowed to travel to Ibiza and Menorca.
Reports on Saturday said they would be tested for Covid-19 and quarantined for six hours before being allowed to start their holidays.
The Canary Islands’ peak season is the European winter, but also appears to be in the Spanish government’s consideration of the pilot scheme plans.
Mrs Reyes Maroto confirmed she would also talk to other regional government leaders about the idea, opening up the possibility of areas like the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol being included for consideration if they signal a desire to get involved.
Mainland resorts like Benidorm and Marbella are currently on phase two of a four-stage national coronavirus recovery programme.
Restrictions in the two resorts are set to be eased again tomorrow when they will be given the possibility of reopening beaches to people wanting to sunbathe and take their first dip in the water for two and a half months.
Marbella and other Costa del Sol resorts will re-open their beaches.
Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez has said Benidorm’s beaches will remain closed until mid-June so they can re-open safely when the time is right.
He has also said sunbathers will be ordered to clear its beaches at midday between morning and afternoon sessions to help encourage rotation and ensure as many people as possible get to enjoy the coastline this summer.
