Spain to open borders, welcome most European tourists on June 21

An employee wearing a face mask checks the swimming pool loungers at the RIU Bravo Hotel in Palma de Mallorca on June 10, 2020 as the Balearic Islands prepare to welcome German tourists from June 15 as a test before Madrid reopens international borders on July 1. JAIME REINA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

10 days earlier than previously planned, the government said Sunday, in a further easing of coronavirus restrictions, but a week later than some others. EU member states. Spain is certainly one of the most visited destinations in the world and now, it is sending mixed signals on when it would reopen its borders as it searches for ways to attract tourists, announcing various dates in recent weeks.

And it is that from June 21, when the state of emergency of Spain ends, it will allow the entry of visitors from the European Union and the open border Schengen area, which also includes non-EU countries such as Switzerland and Norway.

Visitors from outside the EU or the Schengen area will be able to visit Spain from July 1, although it should be noted that this will depend on the public health situation in your country. While British visitors could travel to Spain from June 21, as Britain is still considered part of the EU, this has been indicated by a source from the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

Open borders under necessary precautions

As is well known, Spain’s waterways are currently closed to tourists and those exempt from the entry ban must spend 14 days in quarantine as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 27,000 people in that nation.

Even so, as already mentioned, its borders will be opened for tourists and in relation to this, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has expressed during a press conference on the subject, “Tourism is a key sector for economic recovery”, He also emphasized, “We have been able to corner the virus in our country and on the European continent … but the risk has not disappeared”.

Meanwhile, the European Commission recommended on Thursday that Schengen countries, which normally do not have border controls, lift the controls before June 15. Likewise, after Spain’s three-month state of emergency ends on June 21, the use of masks in public will continue to be mandatory until a cure or vaccine is found for COVID-19, the lung disease caused by the virus.

Similarly, Spain will allow German tourists to start visiting its Balearic Islands starting on Monday as a trial program. In addition to this, it is necessary to mention that a planned aid package will be launched to rescue the Spanish automotive sector that would add 3.7 billion euros, in reference to this, more details will be announced on Monday.

Source: Reuters | National Post