Spain reopened its borders to European tourists on Sunday, 21st June 2020. The nation seeks to kickstart its economy, which took a dip due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Spain also dropped a 14-day quarantine prerequisite for visitors from Britain and countries in Europe’s visa-free Schengen travel zone, in addition to ending its national state of emergency after three months of lockdown.
Tourism is one of Spain’s leading industries, with 80 million tourists a year bringing about 12% of Spain’s GDP. The Spanish Central Bank forecasts a worst-case-scenario contraction of the sector by as much as 15% this year.
In line with this, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced a €4.25 billion ($4.75 billion) package to bolster Spain’s battered tourism industry. The kit includes a previously announced $2.8billion share of the government’s loan guarantee program, which is to be used exclusively by companies in the tourism industry.
Furthermore, new measures include $224 million for the tourism sector to spend on cleaning and other safety measures and $964 million in loans to bolster tourism companies’ digitalization, use of renewable energy, and modernization of facilities. The package also includes a moratorium on mortgage-loan payments for some tourism businesses.
As part of the government’s push to support tourism, state-controlled airport manager, Aena, will be cutting airplane landing fees in Spanish airports
Apart from Spain, Which Other Countries Have Opened for Tourism?
Elsewhere, as of 3rd June, Italy reopened its borders to people arriving from the European Union (E.U.) member countries, countries within the Schengen Zone, as well as the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Northern Ireland. They are also seeking to revive the country’s tourism industry that contributes close to 13% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The European Commission projects Italy’s economy to shrink by 9.5% this year, with the country’s debt rising to over 150% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Europe, with the exception of Germany, has also announced plans to reopen its borders, albeit partially, with effect from 1st July 2020.
As Bloomberg reports, the move seeks to revive domestic economies as the tourist season inches closer.
Egypt plans to reopen all its airports and resume international flights as from 1st July 2020. The resumption of flights seeks to attract foreign tourists to three provinces with the least coronavirus infections; South Sinai, the Red Sea, and Matrouh.
Zanzibar has also removed quarantine restrictions and announced the reopening for tourist activities. The region will now allow charter and scheduled flights to bring in tourists and returning residents.
South Sudan reopened its airports in May, signifying a resumption of local and international flights after the country eased its COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
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