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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Julie Delahaye & Sophie McCoid

Spain set to reopen borders to UK tourists at end of March

Spain have announced they will be reopening their borders to UK travellers from the end of March.

The Spanish government closed the country's borders to UK travellers arriving by air and sea in December, due to fears over a mutant Covid strain in the UK at the time.

This travel ban was extended until March 30, but after that date restrictions are set to lift, paving the way for potential holidays once travel restrictions in the UK are lifted.

Spanish government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero told a press conference that the decision has come because of the UK's successful vaccination programme - reports Mirror Online.

Spain is already one of the countries which is looking to welcome Brits back for holidays in May, when it's hoped that foreign travel could resume as part of England's lockdown roadmap.

Other restrictions for Brits such as a need to show proof of a negative Covid test result to enter Spain will still remain in place.

Currently it's hoped that international travel could resume from May 17 at the earliest, although this is subject to a review by the government's Global Travel Taskforce, the results of which are due to be shared in April 12.

It's worth noting that the government has announced that holidays abroad will be illegal from Monday, with rule-breakers facing fines of up to £5,000.

The new coronavirus laws explicitly ban non-essential travel until June 30. Currently this is due to be reviewed on April 12, the same date when the government's Global Travel Taskforce is set to give its update.

However, both TUI and Skyscanner have said that they're not writing off summer holidays abroad for Brits just yet.

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A statement from TUI UK read: "We remain committed to working closely with the Government on the Global Travel Taskforce and look forward to understanding more about when international travel can take place when it reports on the April 12.

"We believe holidays this summer will be possible, taking into account our outstanding vaccination programme and the use of testing where required."

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