The Costa Blanca, located in the province of Alicante in the Valencian Community is usually a popular destination all year round with Britons. With temperatures still peaking at around 18C to 20C, it’s the perfect spot for a Christmas break. However, this year, with coronavirus restrictions in place and rules on entering and exiting specific areas, Christmas could look a little different on the Costa Blanca.
The only exceptions will be those with higher infection rates which is likely to be areas in Madrid and Catalonia which have recorded the most cases.
The Valencian Community is scheduled to finish its night curfew and border closure on December 9 which could see visitors return to the towns and cities.
“Christmas will be different this year”, he Mr Puig said.
“But I believe the important thing is not how we celebrate it but that we still feel the emotions of the time of year.”
The city of Benidorm has been one of the hardest hit areas on the Costa Blanca.
Bars, hotels and restaurants have all struggled financially this year due to a lack of international tourists, especially from the UK.
Hosbec, a Valencian Hotel Association which represents hotels in Benidorm has released data based on hotel occupancy in Benidorm.
The association revealed that Benidorm’s occupancy for the first half of November was 21.4 percent.
Benidorm currently only has ten hotels open in the city which is 8.7 percent of its accommodation capacity.
Benidorm bar and restaurant owner Simon Barker exclusively told Express.co.uk that a lot of bar owners haven’t had business since March 13 when the Spanish government told businesses to close.
Some businesses have since been able to open, however, there are stringent capacity rules in place along with rules on opening hours.
Mr Barker said: “For a lot of people they’ve had no business since March 13.
“This is continuing and think will continue – hopefully not until Christmas – but I think until March next year.
“They could be going for a whole year without any income at all – and no help. Or very little help.”
He added: “It’s been very hard and Benidorm seems to have been hit harder than most other resorts.”
Currently, Spain is on the UK’s quarantine list which means Britons have to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to the UK.
England is in lockdown until December 2 which means Britons currently cannot travel within the UK or abroad.
