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METERallorca is becoming a European testing laboratory. The regional government of the Balearic Islands wants to find new ways to return tourists to the Mediterranean in the second half of June with pilot projects. German guests will play an important role in this.
“We are absolutely in a position to open up to European residents and tourists in a safe way,” Balearic regional president Francina Armengol said in a video conference with foreign correspondents on Thursday. The socialist politician feels empowered by the plan of the EU Commission. Brussels has proposed safe corridors between European regions with a similar pandemic level. Such connections are for “the Balearic Islands as important as air to breathe,” says Armengol over and over again. Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca are among the Spanish regions that have the virus under control, as well as Germany.
But that doesn’t mean everything will be as it was before Covid-19 this summer. Originally, 16 million tourists were expected on the islands this year. If tourism starts again slowly in summer, it could reach six million by the end of the year, expects the Balearic Tourism Minister, Iago Negueruela, in August it would be perhaps 25 percent of the normal occupation of the accommodation. German package tourists could become pioneers. The regional government is already in talks with German suppliers like Tui and FTI. “They have more experience with group trips that offer the entire program. It is safer ”, says the Minister of Tourism, Iago Negueruela. Tour packages will have priority over individual tourism in the initial phase. At the same time, the Balearic Islands are also looking for a faster solution for the many foreigners who have an apartment there.
Quarantined Holidays
But to do this, the guests, 4.6 million Germans last year, had to be able to fly again and move freely. The Spanish government has limited these options. While Germany is relaxing its strict regulations, all travelers in Spain must be quarantined for two weeks from this Friday. “That would prevent pilot projects. You have to be able to enjoy your holidays. We are talking to the Madrid government about it,” says regional president Armengol.
Only at the end of June, in accordance with the government’s will, will the “new normal” be achieved. At the moment, the gradual relaxation plan only allows Spaniards to cross the borders of their home provinces in exceptional cases. International crossings are closed. But even before domestic air traffic resumes in Spain, Lufthansa’s subsidiary Eurowings wants to significantly expand its restricted flight operations in early May, according to “Mallorca-Zeitung”. Lufthansa intends to fly to Palma again from June 1, followed by low-cost provider Ryanair in late June.
Therefore, the Madrid government would have to grant special authorization to tourist groups arriving in a safe corridor in June. There is still a lot to do in the archipelago. You are working on a voluntary monitoring application. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands have already introduced temperature controls at airports and seaports. It is not yet known how it will end up on the beaches and in the swimming pools of the hotels. The first hotels in Mallorca only reopened on Monday, the pools are still closed. Spanish hoteliers soon want to regain the confidence of their guests with the “without Covid” brand.
