Spain to welcome tourists ‘as soon as possible’

The Spanish government have said that holidaymakers will be welcome back to their country “as soon as possible,” when safe to do so.

Spain was one the worst affected countries in the EU with the virus and started their lockdown on 14 March, and plan to end the lockdown in June.

Foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez said that some cities still remain under strict lockdown, such as Barcelona and Madrid as they still have high concentrations of coronavirus, unlike rural areas.

Gonzalez told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme,“We are hoping to get tourists back as soon as possible but we are also conscious that, when we welcome them, we want to provide the safest destination in Europe.

“We want to make sure when they come, they can continue to experience the amazing stay in Spain, whether they love sports or culture or cuisine or simply like our weather.

“But we want to make sure that at this moment, when every country is suffering from this pandemic, we can provide them with a safe and healthy experience, that’s top of our priorities right now.”

She added, “We’ve had one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, but hope to end lockdown by the end of June.

“We are putting health first, making sure when we open the country first to Spaniards and then to tourists, everybody will be safe.”

She is hoping that two week quarantines will be relaxed on travellers entering Spain to invite tourists.

Gonzalez said, “Quarantine is necessary at the moment to prevent importation of Covid cases but this is a temporary measure.

“The moment we feel that the virus is under control, we will replace quarantine with other measures at the border.”