A senior Spanish official has said she is “very optimistic” that a deal could be agreed to open the Balearics to British holidaymakers this summer.
In 2019, nearly four million Brits went on holiday to one of the four Balearic islands - Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.
But the number fell by 93 per cent in 2020 and now the country is on a mission to get more tourists back on its islands.
Rosa Ana Morilla Rodriguez, director general of tourism for the islands, said she is hopeful the islands could be included on the UK’s “green list” of countries, which is due to come into force from May 17.
Being on the green list would mean British tourists would not have to quarantine on their return home.
“We have the right numbers, we have the right measures in place that will allow us to be considered ‘green’,” Ms Morilla Rodriguez told Sky News.
“It’s also about the capability of your hospitals to isolate different variants of the virus, which is something that is not done by all the hospitals in Spain, but we do it here.
“I think Mallorca is such an important destination for the UK that I’m confident we could have this travel corridor. We have told the British ambassador that we have all the factors needed to be considered ‘green’ for the UK,” she added.
Before the pandemic, Germany sent more tourists to the Balearics than the UK, although resorts such as Magaluf are almost entirely dependent on British visitors, the broadcaster reported.
“We are safe and completely ready to welcome back British visitors,” said Ms Morilla Rodriguez.
