Spain could lift its ban on UK visitors next week - even though the country is not on Boris Johnson's green list of safe travel destinations.
Current legislation forbids visitors from the UK entering Spain or its islands because Britain is not part of the EU Schengen border-free area, which allows free movement within the bloc.
The law is in place until May 31 at the earliest, although it may now be lifted within the coming days. Spain is in the UK's amber category of destinations, meaning travellers will be forced to self-isolate for 10 days on return.
Spain tourism minister, Reyes Maroto, said the EU is working on a change to recommendations for non-essential travel with UK visitors allowed to enter Spain from next Thursday, May 20.
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The minister said: "Spain is working with the British market so that tourism reactivation occurs as soon as possible and that the British choose Spain for their summer holidays."
Earlier, Spain's secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdés, said UK holidaymakers would be able to visit the country from June with a negative PCR test or a digital health certificate.
Spanish government ministers are also pressing their UK counterparts to lift Covid travel restrictions on the Balearic and Canary islands, which have much lower rates of infections than the mainland.
Government spokesman Iago Negueruela said the UK decision not to include the Balearic islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza on the green list was damaging.
He claimed: “They have harmed the Balearic Islands in the decision not to include Spain on the green list We hope that the United Kingdom will decide by regions next time with fewer restrictions in place.
The spokesman said it was hoped the islands could reopen without restrictions after the next UK travel review.
The decision of the UK Government to extend its decision on the reopening of holiday destinations until June, has already had a direct impact on the hotel sector in Majorca.
According to local media, small, medium and large chains have decided to halt the reopening of more than 100 hotels on the island "until all the uncertainties are resolved."
