MAJORCA could be launching travel corridors for tourists as early as next week – but it isn’t likely to be for Brits.
The Balearic Islands have the lowest rates of Covid in Spain, according to the latest report.
While the whole of Spain is deemed a “high incidence” area, the popular holiday islands are close to being no risk, with the seven-day incidence rate under 25, according to German media.
With a weekly report taking place every Sunday, this could mean that travel corridors for the islands could be introduced by next week.
However, this is likely to be for German tourists first, as Germany has been lowering some of their travel restrictions.
Earlier this week, the German government announced that they were lifting their travel advice against the Balearic Islands from tomorrow due to the improvement in the Covid situation.
German Tourism Association President, Norbert Fiebig told Spanish media: “German tourism companies anticipate that the recovery will begin after Easter or in late summer. It would be a success for the Sector to invoice half of what it made in 2019.”
Flights from Germany to the islands also hope to resume from March 26.
The Balearic Islands, which include the Brit-popular holiday destinations of Majorca and Ibiza, have already said they want to be first to welcome foreign tourists back with vaccine passports.
However, it is a blow to UK tour operators and Brits alike who are also eager to return to Spain for a holiday.
The UK was also expected to be one of the first to be allowed to return to the country due to the success of the vaccine rollout, the best in Europe.
More than 20m people have been vaccinated in the UK, with plans to everyone vaccinated as early as May.
Despite Spain suggesting Brits could return from May, with vaccine passports allowing restriction-free travel, the UK is yet to allow foreign holidays abroad.
To be announced on April 12, it is hoped they can resume from May 17 although this is dependent on the vaccine rollout and the different strains of the virus.
If the situation does not improve, foreign holidays may not return until later in the year, with the date of June 21 being put forward.
Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés also said if the vaccine passport scheme doesn’t go ahead, Spain is willing to consider bilateral agreements and corridors “with third countries” which could include the UK.
Vaccine passports have been supported by countries in Europe including Spain and Greece to allow travel to resume without restrictions.
The digital passports prove that the holder had been given both of the jabs, and allow them to bypass quarantine and negative tests.
