A Liverpool bar owner who has venues in Benidorm says the pandemic has made it "impossible" for many businesses abroad to survive.
Ron Sandison, from Halewood, is among the hundreds of pub and restaurant owners in the Costa Blanca pleading with Boris Johnson to put Spain on the green list.
They claim that the region is "completely safe" and say they have some of the "lowest infection rates in Europe."
Ron owns Vincent's bar and drinks distribution company Hydra Drinks that supplies to a large number of restaurants and bars in Benidorm.
Ron previously owned Planet Benidorm and Ron's Bar but said he unfortunately needed to ‘offload’ those venues in the early days of the pandemic.
The 58-year-old told the ECHO: “Since the lockdown in March last year Benidorm and surrounding towns have suffered serious losses with many bars and restaurants closing for good, with very little financial help from the government it's been the most difficult year.
“All bar owners have had to continue to pay the rents on the bars and with no income it’s been impossible for many to survive.”
Ron believes that Benidorm is one of the safest holiday locations to visit and worries that the Government’s travel list is ‘political’.
He added: “The frustrating part is the Valencia region has had and is still the lowest infection rate in the whole of Spain so we can’t understand why we’re not on the green list.
“I travel back and forth from Spain every few weeks so I have to have so many pcr and covid tests and just when I come out of my 10 day quarantine it’s time for me to fly back.
“We all can’t understand why countries like Portugal are on it and Spain are not.
“We have to wear masks everywhere and we’re all complying with all rules and regulations.
“We're starting to feel that the reason we are not on the green list is more political than anything else, especially with our region having one of the lowest infection rates in Europe.”
After a turbulent year Ron can still see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ as he is in the process of opening a new bar and restaurant.
He said: “I’m opening a new bar/restaurant next Friday so I’m hoping we’ll be on Boris Johnson's green list very soon.
“On a positive note, we can see light at the end of the tunnel and we’re hoping Boris Johnson will see sense and put us on the green list.
“My new bar is called The Halfway House and is in the heart of Benidorm, my other bar Vincents has been open since early April but we’re not even covering our costs so we need things to change as soon as possible.
“Especially with most people being vaccinated in the UK and Spain’s vaccinations rollout is really picking up pace.
“Realistically we should get the second half of the year showing decent trade, it will without doubt take Benidorm a few years to recover but we need the UK government to act quickly.”
Some other bar bosses claim the PM’s refusal to put Spain on the travel green list as a selfish act to boost the economy with UK holidays, the Mirror reports.
Scott O’Brien, who owns The Bulldog pub in Benidorm, said: "Things are completely safe over here now.
"It’s strict with mask-wearing in the streets and people are getting vaccinated quickly."
Scott, 55, originally from Glasgow, has been living in Spain for 35 years but has had to survive on his savings.
He said: "The feeling here is that Boris Johnson wants to keep the money in Britain with staycations.
"I understand that as every country has struggled, but it’s untrue to suggest it’s not safe over here.
"If the UK got rid of the quarantine it would make a huge difference. We’re struggling out here and we need the Brits."
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez announced last week that British tourists would be allowed in but the country remains on the UK’s amber list, meaning visitor must quarantine on their return.
The Valencia region has a rate of 29 cases per 100,000 people, and Benidorm itself has 25. In Portugal, which is on the no-quarantine green list, the rate is 52 cases per 100,000.
John McGeechan, 50, runs The Crown pub with his partner Diane Geary, 36.
John, a Scotsman who previously lived with Diane in Leicestershire, said: "Spain’s opening up but Boris Johnson’s trying to keep people in the UK. It’s time to let people come without restrictions."
He added: "Spain’s levels are pretty low and this region in particular is safe. We are desperate to get the tourists back in."
Benidorm Mayor Toni Perez is pushing for the region to be placed in a travel corridor with the UK and understands the British ambassador is in conversation with the UK Government about the proposals.
He said: “The numbers are so low in the Valencia region and even lower in Benidorm. These numbers should be our guarantee to be on the green list."
In a direct plea to the Prime Minister, Mr Perez said: "Come on Boris – Benidorm is safe!"
