Spain to allow Britons to visit from Sunday without quarantine

 

FILE PHOTO: Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya reacts during an interview with Reuters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Madrid, Spain May 28, 2020. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo

 

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain said on Saturday it would allow in British tourists from Sunday without requiring them to spend two weeks in quarantine, opening up to one of its largest tourism markets after the hit from the coronavirus pandemic.

 

But as much as Spain wants to welcome British tourists, the UK's current quarantine measures, requiring a two-week period of self-isolation for most people entering the country from abroad, may well put off some potential travellers.

 

Britain is due to review its 14-day quarantine rule on June 29, three weeks after it was introduced.

 

"We will allow British visitors to enter Spain just like the rest of the European Union or Schengen area from 21 June freely and without the need for the quarantine," foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told BBC News.

 

Spain will end its coronavirus state of emergency, imposed on March 14, on Sunday, and will open its borders to EU and Schengen area countries for a much needed boost to its tourism industry.

 

Gonzalez Laya said British travellers would be subject to the same "triple check" as other European visitors, which consists of checking their origin, taking their temperature and taking contact details in case they need to be traced.

 

"We want to make sure we welcome visitors but do so in safety and security for them as well as for Spaniards," she said.

 

Spain is still in discussions over whether the UK will similarly lift quarantine measures for Spaniards, she said. But it was opening its borders "out of respect for the 400,000 British citizens who have second residences in Spain" and who are "dying to benefit" from them.

 

A British government spokesman said its position on quarantines for people entering the country remained unchanged.

 

"International travel corridors remain an option under consideration by the UK government, not established policy," the spokesman said. "Conversations take place regularly with governments around the world on a whole range of issues and we will not be providing any further details at this stage."

 

Britons account for more than a fifth of the roughly 80 million tourists Spain receives every year.

 

Britain, which has reported more than 42,500 deaths from coronavirus, and Spain, with over 28,300, are among the countries hardest hit by COVID-19.

 

Spain will open its border with Portugal on July 1.

 

Earlier on Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in his final weekly televised address before the end of the state of emergency, warned Spaniards not to drop their guard because the virus could return.

 

“Each of us can be a wall in front of the virus or a route of contagion, it depends on each of us,” he said.

 

Spain, which implemented one of Europe's strictest lockdowns that saw people confined to their homes for nearly two months apart from for trips for food, medicines and essential jobs, has been easing restrictions in recent weeks.

 

(Reporting by Jessica Jones; Additional reporting by William Schomberg in London; Editing by Jan Harvey, Christina Fincher, Frances Kerry and Giles Elgood)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-21

 

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A question of time when Europe´s covid case will increase dramatically again. The pandemic started much later than in Asia, the number of cases and deaths are much higher than in Asia - but they open the borders now... I am happy to live in safe Thailand. 

Are you taking note Mr Prayut...????

7 minutes ago, petermik said:

Are you taking note Mr Prayut...????

Second wave coming in Europe, idiotic decision

7 minutes ago, petermik said:

Are you taking note Mr Prayut...????

Spain had so far almost 300.000 cases and almost 30.000 deaths. Nothing to copy here for Thailand. 

Those Brits will be jumping from the frying pan into the frying pan!

'ere we go , 'ere we go , 'ere we go .. Paella , Sangria , Sombrero's and toy donkeys are on the cards for fun loving Brits abroad again then .. 

Eat yet heart out TaT .. Viva Espania ( and there's a bit of how's yer father Patt's style down the Costa if you know where to look ) ..

43 minutes ago, petermik said:

Are you taking note Mr Prayut...????

Taking notes on how to destroy the health of your country?

Hope not.

Edited June 21, 20206 yr by bkk6060

Anyone got info on the rest of Europe?

14 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Anyone got info on the rest of Europe?

Well out of interest yesterday I looked on an all inclusive site that I use occasionally

Spain obviously there as was Bulgaria, Cyprus (later in year) and others

 

All the destinations are for 11th July onwards

6 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Well out of interest yesterday I looked on an all inclusive site that I use occasionally

Spain obviously there as was Bulgaria, Cyprus (later in year) and others

 

All the destinations are for 11th July onwards

A link would be helpful.... Thanks.

 

I searched and found conflicting info. There are also airlines selling tickets, yet the airport website says they are not flying.

 

Chaos.

 

Edited June 21, 20206 yr by DaRoadrunner

5 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

A link would be helpful.... Thanks.

 

I searched and found conflicting info. There are also airlines selling tickets, yet the airport website says they are not flying.

 

Chaos.

 

You better consider the airlines as crowdfunding …..5555 one day you can fly (maybe …) in the  mean time they are making cash flow 

Edited June 21, 20206 yr by david555

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

But it was opening its borders "out of respect for the 400,000 British citizens who have second residences in Spain"

At  least they have some sense, and they spend  money in Spain

47 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Taking notes on how to destroy the health of your country?

Hope not.

Yeah 58 dead 3  months covid but 65 dead a  day  on the roads, yep thats really  taking care of your beloved Thai people, all hail General Prayut

11 minutes ago, bodga said:

Yeah 58 dead 3  months covid but  ...//

The big question is how much dead would Thailand had today if Prayut and other deciders did nothing in March ?...

How people would react today if they did nothing and had as many dead as UK today ?

This is like an experiment that the rest of the world will be watching with interest.

I hope for the best but deep down think it may turn out to be a disaster for host countries letting the Brits in. It is just too early

1 hour ago, Pattaya46 said:

The big question is how much dead would Thailand had today if Prayut and other deciders did nothing in March ?...

How people would react today if they did nothing and had as many dead as UK today ?

I have a feeling it would be about the same. This number is unknown and will never be known.

 

This virus has been going around since at least last November and it's definitely been in Thailand for far longer than they know.

 

If you think there's only been a small number of cases in Thailand, think again.

 

I wonder, do they have sewage samples from each week going back into last year and if so have they been tested or destroyed?

2 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

'ere we go , 'ere we go , 'ere we go .. Paella , Sangria , Sombrero's and toy donkeys are on the cards for fun loving Brits abroad again then .. 

Eat yet heart out TaT .. Viva Espania ( and there's a bit of how's yer father Patt's style down the Costa if you know where to look ) ..

Apart from your unfortunate and the “typical” criticism about Spaniards, (I guess because of ignorance)., I think that this is not the time to open borders, although more than 400,000 Brits have a second residence in Spain and In my opinion, for fear of a second wave because of Cov-19, this is not the time to open frontiers. But think for a moment that the wound is still open with 30,000 deaths and a devastated economy. 

Edited June 21, 20206 yr by Tarteso

43 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Apart from your unfortunate and the “typical” criticism about Spaniards, (I guess because of ignorance)., I think that this is not the time to open borders, although more than 400,000 Brits have a second residence in Spain and In my opinion, for fear of a second wave because of Cov-19, this is not the time to open frontiers. But think for a moment that the wound is still open with 30,000 deaths and a devastated economy. 

It is incredibly stupid IMHO. Thailand is right, keep people from countries with high infection rates (UK and US for a start) OUT, or quarantine them. No amount of money is going to help the dead in a 2nd wave, unless you don't actually care about them (As a number of governments behave like). Problem is get a 2nd wave and you are back to square one with the health problem, and the economy is even more damaged than before. 

43 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said:

It is incredibly stupid IMHO. Thailand is right, keep people from countries with high infection rates (UK and US for a start) OUT, or quarantine them. No amount of money is going to help the dead in a 2nd wave, unless you don't actually care about them (As a number of governments behave like). Problem is get a 2nd wave and you are back to square one with the health problem, and the economy is even more damaged than before. 

Absolutely, any country In the world couldn't afford a 2nd wave’s consequences, so, IMO it’s a crazy decision.

Maybe just a few cases in Thailand but people working in tourism will starve to death due to the draconic rules implemented without work, as there is little to none aid from the Government.

Better taking a risk in October to get at least some people in the hotels during what in the past was called a high season.

 

Of course the continously whinging retirees see it differently, as they don't need to worry about their income but most likelky belong to the risk groups with 65+, overweighted due to bad habits and being therefor diabetic.

Edited June 21, 20206 yr by Deli

21 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

A link would be helpful.... Thanks.

 

I searched and found conflicting info. There are also airlines selling tickets, yet the airport website says they are not flying.

 

Chaos.

 

I use this one buddy. When the page "lands" change the pricing model from low to high otherwise you get their "recommended" deals at collosal cost. This is an "all inclusive" so prices are higher accordingly

I've been on 3 trips with this crew and they were much better than what I was anticipating

 

https://www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidays/last-minute#nfcC6dQNj7aoBDmHR9+1qBsfx0s=&airports[]=&units[]=&when=&until=&departureDate=&flexibility=false&flexibleDays=0&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&boardBasisCode=&fcRating=&tripadvisorrating=&budgetpp=&budgettotal=&searchRequestType=Sort