Brit holidaymakers will be welcome in Spain from next week – country to reopen to UK tourists on June 21

BRITISH tourists will be able to enter Spain from next week. The welcome news comes after 24 hours of confusion generated by the country’s decision to re-open to international tourism a week earlier than expected. It was initially thought that Spain was only opening its borders to member of the Schengen zone – which the […]

BRITISH tourists will be able to enter Spain from next week.

The welcome news comes after 24 hours of confusion generated by the country’s decision to re-open to international tourism a week earlier than expected.

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Today, the Spanish Foreign Minister confirmed British tourists would be allowed into Spain from the start of next week[/caption]

It was initially thought that Spain was only opening its borders to member of the Schengen zone – which the UK and Ireland are not a part of.

But it has since been clarified by the Spanish Foreign Ministry that EU member states are included, and as the UK is still in the transition phase of leaving the EU then it is part of this group.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez announced yesterday : “The recovery of tourist activity is key for this government. 

“Spanish will lift border controls with the EU member states from June 21 and on July 1 it will re-open borders to other countries.

“Tourism and health security will go hand in hand.”

Today, the Spanish Foreign Minister confirmed British tourists would be allowed into Spain from the start of next week too.

Alamy

The Spanish will lift border controls with the EU member states from June 21, and as the UK is still in the transition phase of leaving the EU then it is considered a part of this group[/caption]

The UK is still in a transition phase after voting to leave the UK.

The transition period runs to the end of 2020 and new rules will only take effect on January 1 2021.

A Spanish Foreign Ministry spokesman said today “As it’s in a transition period, it’s considered that the UK is included in the announcement that Pedro Sanchez made yesterday and can return to Spain along with EU nationals when border controls are lifted from June 21.”

However, exact rules on where Brits will be able to travel to are still unclear, as yesterday Benidorm Town Hall claimed holidaymakers from the UK would not be allowed to return to the Costas until at least July 10.

In addition, a Spanish government spokesperson has told the Telegraph that they could change UK entry rules again, “if the epidemiological situation in Britain requires this.”

While borders across Europe are being opened, Brits are still being told that they must quarantine for 14 days on their return to the UK if they do go abroad.

EasyJet, alongside rivals British Airways and Ryanair, started legal action on Friday against the British government’s quarantine policy to try to have it overturned.

In addition, the Foreign Office currently advises Brits against all but essential international travel.