Spain to Reopen Borders a Week Later Than Commission’s Recommended Date
The Spanish authorities have decided to reopen country’s borders on June 21 for all EU and Schengen countries, except for Portugal with which the borders will reopen on July, despite EU’s recommendation to lift internal border restrictions by June 15.
Spain’s Government had earlier announced that from June 1, international tourist will be eligible to enter Spain without the need to go through the mandatory quarantine. The Balearic Islands are an exception, as authorities there have decided to receive tourists as of Monday, as part of a test program that plans to be applied,
Last month, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had warned that the tourist sector in Spain would soon start to prepare for the upcoming summer season.
“As you know, Spain receives more than 80 million visitors a year. I am announcing that from July, Spain will reopen for foreign tourism in conditions of safety. Foreign tourists can also start planning their holidays in our country.
Spain needs tourism, and tourism needs safety in both origin and destination. We will guarantee that tourists will not run any risks, nor will they bring any risk to our country,” Prime Minister Sanchez said at the time.
Due to the Coronavirus situation, last month, the Spanish authorities decided to take extra steps as an effort to stop the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, including restricting arrivals from the Schengen Area and imposing two weeks quarantine period for all travellers coming in the country.
The Spanish Government had at the time decided that their precautionary measures would be effective from May 15 until May 24.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Spain government also decided to extend tax breaks and visa permissions granted to UEFA for the hosting of Euro 2020 matches, which are scheduled to be played in Bilbao, as the tournament has been postponed until next year due to Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).
