Holidays: Tourism Secretary ‘desperate’ to welcome Brits to Spain
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Europe, including Spain, Germany and Italy, have experienced severe Covid waves and sluggish vaccine rollout. Their collective troubles have led to a travel blackout, axing international holidays for more than a year. The UK is now within reach of reestablishing them, as it nears restriction-free life.
Are Spain holidays back?
Granada, Barcelona and Mallorca may be back on the menu this summer thanks to the UK’s vaccine successes.
Leaked plans show the country has made an impression on the EU, as Boris Johnson leans towards introducing vaccine passports.
And people could enjoy their first holidays on the continent in just two months.
According to The Sun, the EU wants to offer travel ban exemptions to countries with a proven jab track record.
A “senior EU official” told The Sun the UK would “certainly” rank amongst preferred countries.
Brussels leaders met on Monday to discuss entry restrictions, and plans could take shape by June.
Vaccination rates will reportedly form the top criteria they use to determine who can and can’t enter the bloc.
Officials have said decisions remain as to whether incidence or vaccination rates will be the deciding admissions factor.
The news follows pushes made by several countries, among them Greece and Portugal, with a tourism-based economy.
Spain is amongst the most eager nations to welcome British tourists back post-Brexit.
Fernando Valdés, the country’s tourism minister, told Sky News he is “desperate” to welcome holidaymakers.
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He added he believed Spain would be “ready” when officials give the green light for open borders.
The UK should be ready when the time comes, according to the Government.
Ministers have said they will approach travel with a covid-safe priority, bolstered by vaccine passports.
The travel industry is now anticipating the “express” launch of vaccine passports this summer.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Prime Minister wants passports ready for May 17.
Mr Johnson wants to allow international holidays once again by the date, although not yet confirmed.
The publication revealed a Government official told the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group they aim to finish early versions of the document “by the time international travel restarts”.
More expansive, international certificates may take much longer to develop, however.
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