Spanish islands warn tourists to abide by virus restrictions

FACED WITH a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spain’s Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do.

Like the rest of Spain, the archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea is strengthening measures to combat the virus before the Easter period beginning April 1. They include further limiting social interactions to people living under the same roof and closing bars and restaurants at 5 p.m.

But the restrictions have not stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their government’s removal of the Balearic Islands and other holiday destinations from a list of high-risk areas.

NO QUARANTINE

Travellers will no longer need to quarantine on their return to Germany, although they will need a negative coronavirus test before departing. The German government still discourages all non-essential travel.

Given that all non-essential domestic travel across most Spanish regions is banned, the existing measures mean that flying from most of Europe for a weekend in Madrid or a beach holiday on the island of Ibiza, for example, is often easier than for many Spaniards to visit relatives in other regions or spend time in their second homes.

Balearic regional government spokesman Iago Negueruela said on Tuesday that both the existing measures and new ones kicking off on March 26 must be carried out“by everybody, no matter where they come from”.

Negueruela, who is also the islands’ tourism minister, said that authorities will be on high alert monitoring for possible rule breakers, private news agency Europa Press reported.