Longer-term touring is difficult

With your extensive knowledge and dealings with long-term motorhoming in Spain, please can I urge you to take some action in the following.

Covid-19 has taken its toll, not only with lives lost, but with businesses destroyed or on the point of collapse. Perhaps, one of the hardest hit is the tourist industry – particularly in southern Spain.

Attention has been directed to the airline and hospitality sectors – yet, one change in the Schengen rules could help so many smaller businesses.

British (and European) tourists like to visit southern Spain for the winter. Many have even bought holiday homes or take the long trek south in their motorhomes – the counterpart of the American snowbirders.

At present, the Schengen Treaty restricts the time that can be spent, as a tourist, in another European country to 90 days in any 180 days.

This restriction has made many people think twice about the economics of buying a holiday home or travelling such a long distance for only part of the winter.

The United Kingdom allows European visitors to stay for up to 180 days in a year – and these can be consecutive days according to gov.uk

If Europe could reciprocate with the same arrangement, making an allowable stay of up to 180 days instead of the two periods of 90 days in a single year, it would be to the advantage of many.

Local Spanish businesses (many owned by ex-pats) would benefit and the Spanish economy could be revitalised.

The majority of holiday home owners and motorhomers are of retirement age and the warmer climes and relaxed lifestyle benefits their health and wellbeing. So, a boost to Spanish tourism and less strain on the NHS.

Ann Cutting