Spain to restart tourism from 21 June: Excluding Britain’s

The Spanish prime minister has declared his country will reopen to European visitors from next Sunday.

But only travellers from the European Union and the wider Schengen area will be permitted from 21 June; visitors from the UK are likely to have to wait until 1 July to be admitted.

Pedro Sanchez made the announcement on the eve of Spain’s reopening to international tourism with a pilot programme of holidays to Mallorca for German citizens.

Previously 1 July had been set as the key reopening date for the country, which is heavily dependent on foreign holidaymakers.

However, El Pais reported that the Spanish leader told a conference of regional presidents that unrestricted tourism for many Europeans would be accelerated by 10 days.

The current 14-day quarantine requirements that Spain imposes on arrivals will be lifted on the same day.

Spain’s reopening of its borders coincides with the end of the “state of alarm” that began three months ago when the government imposed a strict lockdown.

The frontier with Portugal will remain closed until 1 July, when a special border ceremony will be attended by both the Spanish and Portuguese prime ministers.

On the same day, citizens from some countries outside the Schengen zone will be admitted.

Mr Sanchez said: “From 1 July, borders with third countries, outside Schengen, will be opened in stages.”

Simon Hunter, the editor of the English-language edition of El Pais, said: “As has often been the case, it’s a little confusing. He doesn’t specifically mention the UK.”

Spain’s foreign affairs minister, Arancha Gonzalez, later confirmed on Twitter: “Spain will open its borders with EU and Schengen-area countries as from 21 June, with the end of the state of alarm and end of quarantine.

“With third countries as from 1 July depending on epidemiological situation and with safety measures.”

Mr Sanchez has recently expressed concerns about the number of cases in the US and Russia. Other Spanish politicians, including the tourism minister, have raised doubts about visitors from the UK because of the high level of coronavirus infections.

However, Vicent Torres, deputy director of the Balearic Islands Tourism Board, said: “We look forward to welcoming our British visitors back as soon as possible.”

Europe’s two biggest budget airlines, easyJet and Ryanair, are relaunching flights at scale between UK and Spanish airports on 1 July.

Spain’s decision is currently academic for most British holidaymakers.

Since 17 March the Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel anywhere abroad, and since 8 June all arrivals to the UK, including returning British holidaymakers, have been subject to two weeks of quarantine.