Spain has said it is “itching” to welcome back UK holidaymakers and is confident it will be "very soon".
Tourism minister Maria Reyes Maroto gave Brits looking forward to the prospect of Costa holidays this summer a boost by stressing how much Spain wanted to see British tourists this season.
Ms Reyes Maroto did not say when Spain would open its borders to Brit sunseekers, or confirm it would be in July when the country opens up to international tourism.
But she sounded a positive note today by saying: “As you know the UK is our main foreign holiday market and Spain is Britain’s favourite holiday destination.
“We are looking forward to welcoming British holidaymakers with the warmth and hospitality that characterises us.
“Both countries, Spain and the UK, are making a great effort to control the Covid-19 pandemia and the results are more and more positive.
“We’re speaking to the British authorities and also tour-operators there to learn more about the evolution of the pandemia and get more information on when the Foreign Office will lift the quarantine that could stop people from the UK travelling.
“When we have more certainty about the evolution of the pandemia and its control meets the requisites of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and when we have information about the elimination of the quarantine, we are confident we will able to receive British visitors very soon.”
She added: “From here we send them a big hug and look forward to recuperating that mobility and the UK foreign holiday market which for us is very important.”
Spain’s Tourism Minister has previously been quoted as saying Britain’s health situation still “has to improve,” adding: “For us it is important to guarantee that people arrive healthy and leave healthy.”
Her comments today show Spain is doing all it can to make sure the return of Brits to the Costas takes place “as soon as possible.”
There has been no mention of Brit participation in pilot tourist tests expected to take place later this month in areas like the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.
They are expected to feature holidaymakers from Germany and some Nordic countries.
