Published on Monday, June 1, 2020

Greece reviews UK flight arrival procedures

Greece has said British holidaymakers will be allowed to visit from mid-June, subject to mandatory testing and possible quarantine on arrival, but Spain says the UK's infection rate must improve before it welcomes UK travellers.

Last week, the UK was omitted from a list of countries that Greece considered to be safe, but the Greek government has now said Brits can visit, subject to 24 hours' quarantine while they are being tested for coronavirus.

They will stay in Government-approved hotels while awaiting results. If negative, they will spend a seven-day self-quarantine at their booked accommodation. If the test is positive, then holidaymakers will be required to quarantine under supervision for 14 days.

The policy applies from June 15-30, during what the Greeks are calling their 'bridge phase'.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says British holidaymakers will be tested for coronavirus on arrival into the country.

Spain, meanwhile, is planning to welcome a small number of foreign holidaymakers in two weeks' time as part of a test run to re-boot its tourism business, but British visitors are not on the list.

Spain's tourism minister Maria Reyes Maroto has said that the UK's coronavirus record 'still has to improve' before the country will consider welcoming British holidaymakers.

She told Spanish media that Spanish and regional government representatives had spoken with operators including Jet2holidays and TUI about plans to re-boot the holiday industry.

But she said the UK's 'health situation still has to improve'.

"For us it is important to guarantee that people arrive healthy and leave healthy."

Spain plans to welcome foreign tourists to the Canary Islands and Balearics in two weeks' time as part of a pilot scheme. If it is approved, the country will open its borders properly to holidaymakers from July.

The Balearics Islands regional government wants to welcome around 3,000 German tourists who would holiday mainly in Majorca with some being allowed to travel to Ibiza and Menorca, from June 16. The Spanish government is also considering the Canary Islands in its pilot scheme plans.

According to reports, foreign holidaymakers would be tested for Covid-19 and quarantined for six hours before being given the all-clear to start their holiday.

Reyes Maroto said she would also talk to other regional government leaders, such as Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol about the pilot scheme. Mainland resorts like Benidorm and Marbella are currently on phase two of a four-stage national coronavirus recovery programme.

Greece image by Travelspot, Pixabay
Majorca image by Lutz Hirschmann, Pixabay