SCOTS HEAD ABROAD
Holidaymakers ignore any health fears and quarantine concerns to take a vacation
BY TERINA TALAS TRAVELLERS from Scotland who arrived in Spain yesterday to begin their summer holiday will have to wear facemasks everywhere they go and face quarantine when they return home.
Passengers arriving in Palma, Majorca were faced with the prospect of fines for non-compliance with coronavirus rules.
People will need to fill in a visitor locator form before their arrival in Scotland and if they fail to quarantine for two weeks, they can be fined £480.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Covid cases entering Scotland from abroad was “one of our biggest risk factors”.
Spain and Serbia are the only two destinations exempt from travel corridors but the list of 57 other countries is expected to be reviewed on July 20.
This is seen as a blow for the travel and tourism industry as Jet2 suspended all flights to Spain from Scotland as a result of the 14-day quarantine.
The Spanish market accounts for 250,000 visitors to Scotland. But holidaymakers were not deterred from travelling to Majorca.
John Collins, a self-employed dentist from Glasgow, arrived with his son, Kyle, 22, who was furloughed from international spirits company Edrington.
He said: “I’m a bit disappointed about the two-week quarantine rule as I thought, like in England, it would have been lifted.
“I’m here for a week but may stay longer if I have to go back and quarantine.”
Ian Atken, 66, and his wife Joyce, 68, have a holiday home in Puerto Pollensa and were looking forward to their first post-Covid holiday.
Ian, a self-employed architect from Edinburgh, said: “We’re here for a while and I’m presuming the two-week quarantine will be lifted by the time we go back.
“But we’ll do the quarantine if we need to. I work from home, so being in lockdown was OK for me and I’ll manage another two weeks. Scotland’s rates are low, so they will probably lift the self-quarantine rule quite soon.”
He said he thought it was unusual that Spain, along with Serbia, was one of the countries exempt with air corridors. Ian added: “I was surprised that Spain wasn’t included in the list of countries with air corridors.”
Ciara McKinley, 17, and
Lauryn Hughes, 17, who both work for shoe chain Schuh, said they were not getting paid while on their one-week holiday with friends. And they will have to quarantine for two weeks when they return to Livingston.
Ciara said: “We’re not getting paid for our week’s holiday and also have to take two weeks unpaid leave to self-quarantine when we get back.
“It feels a bit unfair that we’re not getting holiday pay. The
company said it’s our choice to go on holiday. But we’re just happy to be here and looking forward to going out and having some fun after lockdown.”
Andrew Morton, 53, of Kirkcaldy, bought an open ticket and will wait to see what happens with the quarantine situation.
He said: “I’m retired so if I have to do the self-quarantine when I go back, I’m not that bothered. I come to Majorca quite a lot and wasn’t worried about travelling.
I just wanted to get away to relax after the last few months.”
Another 21-year-old holidaymaker from Glasgow, who works for Sainsbury’s supermarket, said: “I’ve been working throughout lockdown so I’m really looking forward to my holiday.
“I’m here for two weeks and when I go back, I’ll have to selfquarantine for another two weeks, so that’s a month off work.
“But I’m not that bothered as when people were doing lockdown, I was working, so I’m looking forward to having the time off.”
Holidaymakers in Spain will need to wear masks all the time. The only places exempt are swimming pools, beaches, or while eating or drinking at a bar or restaurant.
Graeme McIntosh, 41, a technical sales manager from Glasgow, is holidaying in Santa Ponsa for a month with his wife Susan, 44, and three of their four children – Iona, 13, and 10-year-old twins Sam and Ruairi.
He said: “It’s important to carry masks everywhere and wear them. We don’t want Spain to have another outbreak because the tourists are arriving.”
Graeme said he wasn’t worried about travelling with his family post-lockdown, adding: “It’s a change of scenery and nice for the kids to be in the pool and on the beach.”
Graeme and Susan, who have been holidaying in Majorca for more than 15 years, added: “We feel it’s important to come and support the businesses here as they rely on tourism.
“It’s a lot quieter than normal. Some people may be apprehensive about travelling but it’s very well organised in Spain.
“They have hand sanitiser stations in all the bars, shops and restaurants and social distancing in place wherever you go.”