The left-wing government's management of the crisis has drawn a barrage of criticism from right-wing parties. AFP
The left-wing government's management of the crisis has drawn a barrage of criticism from right-wing parties. AFP
The left-wing government's management of the crisis has drawn a barrage of criticism from right-wing parties. AFP
The left-wing government's management of the crisis has drawn a barrage of criticism from right-wing parties. AFP

Europe

Coronavirus: Spain to reopen to international tourists in July

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said 'Spain needs tourism' as lockdown eased

Jamie Prentis
Jamie Prentis
London

May 24, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Spain is to reopen to international tourists in July after imposing one of Europe's strictest lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged to protect tourists, a crucial source of income for the country, from the disease which infected 234,824 and killed 28,628 in Spain.

The government has slowly begun to ease the quarantine but its two largest cities Madrid and Barcelona remain in lockdown.

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"As you know, Spain receives more than 80 million visitors a year. I am announcing that from July, Spain will reopen for foreign tourism in conditions of safety. Foreign tourists can also start planning their holidays in our country," Mr Sanchez said.

"Spain needs tourism, and tourism needs safety in both origin and destination. We will guarantee that tourists will not run any risks, nor will they bring any risk to our country.

“We’re sending everyone a message today: Spain will be waiting for you from July," he added.

Strict measures introduced in March saw the closure of hotels, restaurants, beaches and leisure parks with the economy forecast to contract by 12 per cent this year. Around a million jobs were lost in March alone. A state of emergency has been extended until June 7.

On Saturday, the far-right Vox party organised protests against the government's lockdown measures.

"It is time to make a big noise against the government of unemployment and misery that has abandoned our self-employed and workers," Vox said.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal said the government was “directly responsible for the worst management of this crisis on the entire planet".

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Gallery: Coronavirus around the world

A baby with a face shield waits to board a plane at an airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Kyodo News via AP
A baby with a face shield waits to board a plane at an airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Kyodo News via AP
People eat at tables with plastic dividers, as a preventive measure at the Srinagarindra Train Night Market in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP
People eat at tables with plastic dividers, as a preventive measure at the Srinagarindra Train Night Market in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP
People watch a movie from their cars at a drive-in theatre in Les Herbiers, western France as France eases lockdown measures. AFP
People watch a movie from their cars at a drive-in theatre in Les Herbiers, western France as France eases lockdown measures. AFP
Dr Osman Osmanov puts on protective gear before his shift at an intensive care unit of the Filatov City Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Russia. AP Photo
Dr Osman Osmanov puts on protective gear before his shift at an intensive care unit of the Filatov City Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Russia. AP Photo
A woman in a protective suit passes by a disinfection tent before she enters the departure area of Manila's International Airport, Philippines. AP Photo
A woman in a protective suit passes by a disinfection tent before she enters the departure area of Manila's International Airport, Philippines. AP Photo
Dr Rosa Lopez comforts her colleague Victor Cuba, an emergency room nurse infected with Covid-19, inside the Guillermo Almenara hospital in Lima, Peru. AP Photo
Dr Rosa Lopez comforts her colleague Victor Cuba, an emergency room nurse infected with Covid-19, inside the Guillermo Almenara hospital in Lima, Peru. AP Photo
A volunteer sprays disinfectant to protect against the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in a shopping arcade in Yokohama, Japan. Getty Images
A volunteer sprays disinfectant to protect against the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in a shopping arcade in Yokohama, Japan. Getty Images
Graduate Anna Massari listens to a commencement speech in a car during a graduation ceremony for Faith Lutheran High School held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to the spread of the coronavirus in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP
Graduate Anna Massari listens to a commencement speech in a car during a graduation ceremony for Faith Lutheran High School held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to the spread of the coronavirus in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP
Felix Hassebroek watches his mother Naomi give his father a haircut during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Brooklyn, New York, US. Reuters
Felix Hassebroek watches his mother Naomi give his father a haircut during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Brooklyn, New York, US. Reuters
People wait to be care at a clinic in San Jose, Costa Rica. AFP
People wait to be care at a clinic in San Jose, Costa Rica. AFP
Staff of the National Museum of the 21st Century's Arts in Rome wait for visitors to the exhibition "Gio Ponti. Loving Architecture" set up with an installation of banners inspired to late Italian architect Gio Ponti's modernist design, on the day the MAXXI reopens. AP Photo
Staff of the National Museum of the 21st Century's Arts in Rome wait for visitors to the exhibition "Gio Ponti. Loving Architecture" set up with an installation of banners inspired to late Italian architect Gio Ponti's modernist design, on the day the MAXXI reopens. AP Photo
A couple wearing face masks prepare to go rowing in a lake in the King Rama IX public park in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP
A couple wearing face masks prepare to go rowing in a lake in the King Rama IX public park in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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