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Published on : Tuesday, November 10, 2020
The prominent tourist attractions, Majorca and Ibiza are to require negative coronavirus tests for all arrivals next year. The system will be different from the Canaries where, in effect from November 14, all holidaymakers will be told to bring a COVID- 19 free certificate with them, taken within 72 hours of travel.
If they arrive without one, they will be denied access to their accommodation in any of the Canary islands until proved negative and will have to pay for the tests themselves at a private clinic or hospital.
The Brits are currently unable to visit Spain, due to the UK lockdown, although were able to travel to the Canaries for a few weeks prior after the islands were added to the air bridge list.
The Balearic executive says tourists heading for Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera next year will be recommended to do a PCR before they travel but, if they do not present it upon arrival, they will be given a quick test both at ports and at airports free of charge.
The government says it will meet the expense.
The Minister of Tourism, Iago Negueruela said the Balearics are intent on “reactivating the economic engine of the islands from next Easter” and has already started talks with hoteliers to define what diagnostic tests could be performed on tourists and what other measures can improve entry control at airports and ports. He said they wanted the new tourist season to start next March.President of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, Maria Frontera, said the control of ports and airports was essential.
The tourism leaders are already warning that 2021 is going to be a very difficult season as many businesses which have closed down this summer and winter do not know if they will be able to reopen again as there were no reservations and no demand.
Iago Negueruela said to overcome these harsh prospects, the hotel sector and the regional administration had to work together to offer security guarantees to visitors and live with the pandemic by recovering as much activity as possible.