Published on : Thursday, April 30, 2020
Spain had enforced one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, with the relaxing of outdoor activity now taking place after six weeks of the new rules. While play parks are still closed, and swimming in the sea is banned, kids are being allowed out for an hour a day between 9am and 9pm.
These beaches are beginning to reopen, although social distancing is still in place, and an initial plan for the opening of bars was suggested for June.
Now, it could be as early as May. Andalucia’s President Juan Manuel Moreno is to propose restaurants and bars open from May 25, while other shops could open from May 11.
The local establishments praised the news, claiming it was “fantastic” and are offering “drinks on the house”. However, it is unlikely to be international tourists being welcomed, including Brits, as countries outside of Spain still ban non-essential travel. The trips to Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Formentera are already off the cards for holidaymakers from the United Kingdom because the country waited too long to go into lockdown.
The president of Benidorm’s British Businesses Association, Karen Maling Cowles also told that travel that it was unlikely that Brits would be allowed there either during peak holiday season. The domestic tourism will be the first to return, while bars and cafes will also still need to keep social distancing in place.
The president of the Spanish Hospitality Industry Jose Luis Yzuel also said that bars will have to supply hand sanitisers, prove they undergo extreme cleaning, get their staff tested and increase the distance between tables on the terraces.
Tags: costa del sol, spain, spain tourism