Travel

Ibiza, Majorca, Lanzarote and Tenerife may come out of lockdown before rest of Spain


IBIZA, Majorca and Tenerife may be the first regions to come out of Spain’s lockdown first, according to the country’s health minister.

Salvador Illa explained during a conference that the restrictions would be lifted by province, not by autonomous regions”.

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 Regions in Spain such as Ibiza may be the first to open in the country
Regions in Spain such as Ibiza may be the first to open in the countryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He did add that there would be exceptions, according to Euro News Weekly, but didn’t explain for which region.

The Canary Islands, including Tenerife and Gran Canaria, as well as the Balearic Islands, including Majorca and Ibiza, are likely to be some of the first to open.

Andalucia and Murcia may also be the first regions in the de-escalation planes, the health minister hinted.

The regions are seeing a flatter curve of coronavirus cases – the Balearic Islands has recorded its lowest number of infections since the state of alarm with just five new cases in 24 hours.

While Spain slowly comes out of lockdown, following the relaxation of outdoor activities which lets children outside for one hour a day, Mr Illa was reluctant to explain what this meant for the tourism industry.

 Beaches across the country have already opened for kids as the lockdown is eased
Beaches across the country have already opened for kids as the lockdown is easedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
 The health minister said it was too risky to give a definitive date for the return of tourists
The health minister said it was too risky to give a definitive date for the return of touristsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He said it was too “risky” to suggest when hotels, bars and local attractions would be able to open to holidaymakers yet.

The only current date given is May 2, when the public will be able to go back out again for sports or walking.

Some Spanish beaches want to open by mid-June, while government leaders in the Canary Islands are asking for special permission to end the state of emergency which could see the beaches reopen in a fortnight, restaurants in three weeks and limited holidays within a month.

Andalucia’s President Juan Manuel Moreno is to propose restaurants and bars open from May 25, while Majorca has predicted that Brits could still return to the island for the holiday season this year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

However, while the regions may be first out of the lockdown, tourist leaders have warned that the UK might not be first on the list to be welcomed back.

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Balearics Tourism minister Iago Negueruela said that while the islands could open by the summer, only tourists from certain countries would be allowed in.

Mr Negueruela said: “There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures and that also puts us in a different situation with respect to them.”

Not only that, but airlines in the UK have grounded their fleets, with Ryanair and Jet2 not resuming flights until mid-June at the earliest.

Spain is also likely to be very different for tourists this year – with plastic screens at restaurants, less sunbathing space and mandatory masks and temperature checks.

Brits could still get a summer holiday this year after an EU chief said late getaways could still be possible — as long as people keep apart.

Earlier this month, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was optimistic people would be able to travel as coronavirus was brought under control.

Mrs von der Leyen said: “I think we are going to find smart solutions to have a summer vacation.

“Maybe a little different, with other hygiene measures, with a little more social distance, but it is impressive to see that we have found solutions.”

It followed Transport Secretary Grant Shapps who said Brits should not book their summer holidays as the Covid-19 crisis might still be raging.

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