SPANISHAYES

»»King begs British tourists to visit »»Air bridge plan due next week

THE King of Spain has urged Brits to return to their favourite holiday destination – as the UK Government said we will find out by next week where we can go on holiday this summer.

King Felipe yesterday declared Spain open for business as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that he will soon reveal which countries the UK has struck air bridge deals with, which would allow for quarantine-free travel.

Shapps said: “There are areas where the virus is more under control. We’re having conversations and I will be saying more about that on or by the 29th.”

He refused to say how countries would be chosen for air bridges,

BY BEN GLAZE but they are thought to include destinations such as Greece, France and Spain.

In a further sign of the reopening of the Continent, key tourist attractions across Europe are welcoming visitors again.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris reopens its doors today and art lovers will be able to return to the city’s famous Louvre Museum on July 6.

Brits have been advised against all but essential travel to anywhere in the world for the last three months.

And on June 8, the UK Government introduced a quarantine meaning that those arriving from abroad, including

Brits returning home, must self-isolate for 14 days.

That policy is set for review on Monday – and the travel industry wants the quarantine scrapped to boost business.

Air bridges or travel corridors are seen as key to restarting tourism.

Shapps said: “We want to have a rational system… We want to make sure that we’re not reinfected.”

He told the Commons transport select committee that a major consideration in agreeing an air bridge with other countries is if they have a test and trace system up to the standard of the UK’s.

The UK death toll rose by 154 yesterday, hitting 43,081, with

Britain the worst-hit country in Europe.

A spokeswoman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: “We welcome the idea of agreeing travel corridors with other nations to allow Britons to travel abroad. However, we need a more comprehensive road map as soon as possible that includes time frames for relaxing international travel restrictions so businesses and customers can plan ahead.”

An Airlines UK spokesman said air bridges would “enable families to get away this summer”.

King Felipe made his plea during a visit to Gran Canaria with Queen Letizia.

He said: “We have been able to stroll by the sea and show Spain is in a new phase and we’re tackling the recovery. The message we want to send to people is one of encouragement, that visitors have to come, from the mainland, from Europe, from wherever is necessary. We have to lift our spirits.”

The first travellers from the UK jetted to Spain on Sunday, after the country opened its borders to Europeans.