Last Tuesday, the Spanish government proposed that the European Union open up travel routes between regions in the EU that have controlled the spread of the coronavirus.
Following a Cabinet meeting, the Tourism Minister, Reyes Maroto, introduced his proposition at a press conference. Maroto proposed opening up travel corridors between different areas and regions of countries in the EU. He suggested that parts of Spain could start welcoming international tourists, without having to wait for the entire country to be in a position to do so. The idea is not to paralyse the entire country, especially those areas who have had a speedier recovery and are now in a position to deliver a safe passage for international tourists. Maroto is looking for a speedier return of tourism which he intends to negotiate with Spain’s regions via agreements with regions of other EU member states with a similar level of control over the coronavirus epidemic.
Sources from the Spanish government are confident that this initiative could allow international tourists to arrive before July 1, which is when the obligatory14 day quarantine for overseas arrivals is set to come to an end. “If there are areas that can reopen to international tourists earlier, it doesn’t make sense to wait and lose a whole week,” confirmed a source from the Spanish government. “The present border controls and the restrictions on travel have to be lifted in those areas of the country that have an epidemiological situation that is evolving positively, to enable tourists to come and enjoy their holiday in Spain.”
The measure would provide relief to the Spanish regions most dependent on tourism, such as the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. The regional Balearic government has already begun negotiations with different länder in Germany. They are awaiting the green light from the central government body to complete the deal.
At the Tuesday press conference, Maroto said it was important for EU members to work hard to define common norms for reopening countries to recover freedom of movement within the EU. “We are working to reactivate tourism for the summer season, in a way that can guarantee the health security of the visitors to its fullest,” she said.
Sanchez’s announcement last Sunday, that Spain would reopen to international tourists at the end of June has been welcomed by tour operators and airlines. “Now we can plan vacations to visit Mallorca, the coast of the Spanish peninsula and the Canary Islands, and make an offer to our clients,” said Fritz Joussen, the managing director of TUI Group. The German airline Lufthansa announced that same day that it would increase flights to Spanish destinations such as Málaga and the Balearic cities of Ibiza and Palma. The Portuguese airline TAP also said that the number of weekly flights would jump from 18 to 247 for July when it plans to reinstate flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Málaga.
