Canary Islands: Expert on why islands should be on green list

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Spain reopened its doors to Britons on May 24, despite the fact the nation currently remains on the UK’s amber list for travel. While “entry restrictions and testing requirements for arrivals from the UK to Spain no longer apply”, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued some new advice pointing out holidaymakers may need proof of a negative test in some circumstances.

In some parts of Spain, the same evidence of a “negative test, of being fully vaccinated or of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months” may be required “when checking into tourist accommodation or when travelling to the islands from mainland Spain.”

The FCDO explains: “In some parts of Spain, regardless of your country of origin, tourist accommodation providers may require you to present evidence either of a negative test, of being fully vaccinated or of having had and recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months.

“This currently applies in the Canary Islands.

“Children under the age of 6 are exempt from testing.

“Tests permitted are PCR (RT-PCR for COVID-19), Transcription Mediated Amplification (TMA), and Antigen tests.

“You should check with your accommodation provider prior to travel.”

The testing rule may also apply to passengers travelling from mainland Spain to the Canary or Balearic Islands.

“You may be required to present a negative COVID test depending on the region you are travelling from,” continues the FCDO.

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“You should refer to your travel operator and the local authorities in your final destination for guidance on domestic entry.”

While Britons are currently exempt from testing and isolation upon arrival, this does not apply to those who have been in a country deemed as at “risk” in the previous 14 days.

All passengers palling on travelling to Spanish airports and ports from one of these countries must show either a negative COVID-19 test, a certificate or document proving they have been fully vaccinated against Covid, or a medical certificate certifying that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months prior to arrival.

COVID-19 tests must have been taken within the 48 hours prior to arrival.

Some travel restrictions are in place for international transit through Spanish airports by passengers on flights departing from the UK.

The FCDO explains: “If you are transiting Spain by air from the UK you are not subject to testing requirements, however, you are required to complete and sign an online Health Control Form no more than 48 hours prior to travel declaring any known history of exposure to COVID-19 and giving contact details.”

Spain’s archipelagos were recent left devastated after they did not make it onto the green list at the most recent review.

Both the Canary and Balearic Islands had been predicted by experts as potentials for quarantine travel due to their Covid figures, however the Uk Government decided to make no new additions to the list.

According to Canary Islands Government Tourism Advisor Christina Del Rio, the islands “should have a different treatment” due to how “safe” they are.

Ms Del Rio told BBC News: “We have been working on the pandemic situation for a year and a few months. We have developed strategies to make it a safe destination.

“Most of our population is already vaccinated.

“We’re in a really quick evolution of the vaccination procedure. By the end of July, 70 percent of our people will be vaccinated and I have checked this information with the health department of the Canary Islands so we can confirm that 70 percent of people over the age of 16 will be vaccinated.”

Ms Del Rio added: “The Canary Islands and the rest of the archipelagos should have a different treatment in this situation.”

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