In a bid to revive the sunny holiday destination's tourism industry, Spain is set to welcome vaccinated people within weeks.
A senior Spanish government official has said falling Covid-19 incidence rates, and the continuing of vaccine rollouts in some countries will allow Spain to drop travel restrictions in early June.
Deputy Minister for Tourism Fernando Valdes told The Associated Press that some people “from countries outside the European Union will be able to come — for example, from the United Kingdom, which is in a good epidemiological situation — without any restrictions.”
He said Spain will begin to accept holidaymakers that can present a vaccine certificate.
Negotiations about introducing certificates are currently ongoing between EU governments and EU lawmakers.
As Spain hopes to be up and running by the end of June, they will need a decision soon.
Mr Valdes said: “Spain will have the digital certificate ready in June. We hope that (the EU) regulation will be approved on the June 21.
“But from the first week of June, Spain will be able to validate certificates on its borders and expedite certificates to its citizens.”
Spain is focusing its new promotional campaigns on its key markets: the United Kingdom, France, Germany and other EU countries, which made up 75% of visitors in 2019.
Pre-pandemic, the tourism sector accounted for 12% of the gross domestic product in Spain but fell to below 6% after lockdowns.
Like many areas across Spain, the Canary Islands allow visitors from the European Union and other countries Spain has reciprocal agreements with, such as Australia and New Zealand.
Here are some of the requirements needed to holiday in some of Irelands favourite Spanish
locations:
- Everyone who enters Spain must go through a health inspection of various degrees, depending on their circumstances.
- Travellers from high-risk areas must fill out a Spanish Health Form and have a PCR test taken within 72 hours before travelling.
- If the EU approves the green cert for travel, vaccinated people will be allowed into the country without COVID testing.
Current restrictions in Ireland mean travel abroad is allowed for essential purposes only.
This does not include holidaying.
Tainste Leo Varadkar said on Thursday: “We have one of the lowest death rates per million population in Europe... and some of that is down to our very strict travel rules.”
He said that the Government will make further decisions on international travel next week.
