Spain to reopen to foreign tourists in late June

The country hopes to revive its badly-hit tourism industry 
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Spain aims to reopen its borders at the end of June, a minister has said.

Last week, the government announced a two-week quarantine for all overseas travellers in a bid to prevent a second wave of coronavirus. Now, Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos has said the measure was only ever meant to be temporary.

“As soon as we Spaniards can travel to other provinces, foreigners will be able to come to Spain,” he told TVE broadcaster.

“From late June, we’ll start the tourism activity, I hope,” he said. “We must make Spain an attractive country from the health point of view.”

Spain is dependent on tourism and it accounts for 12 per cent of the country’s economic output. One of the worst hit countries in Europe with 27,650 deaths and 231,350 infections, Spain is slowly relaxing its lockdown measures which have been in place since mid-March.

"It is consistent with the phase-out plan," said Abalos. "We can't allow foreigners to travel while the Spanish population is confined."

Last week, Greece also announced it hoped to begin welcoming tourists from June and Slovakia's joint borders with the Czech Republic and Austria are expected to open this summer.

Advice from the UK government remains the same and all but essential travel is advised against. Health secretary Matt Hancock said last week that the prospect of foreign summer holidays for many Brits was unlikely.

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