Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:22 pm
coronavirus
Mallorca / Ibiza
The Balearic Govt:
For British & German tourists from March 2021
The Government will pay for rapid tests for tourists in ports and airports
The Government will pay for the antigen tests, or better known as rapid tests, for tourists who come to the Balearic Islands from the next tourist season.
The Balearic Executive has explained that it recommends that tourists do a PCR at origin but, if they do not present it upon arrival, they will be given a quick test both at ports and at airports.
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The Minister of the Economic Model, Tourism and Labor, Iago Negueruela, has stated that "our line of work has always been directed to PCRs at source" with harmonized European regulations, but if it is not possible "the Government will guarantee that tests are carried out ».
He has also stated that one of the aspects of the health security strategy that the Government wants to agree with hoteliers to try to reactivate the economic engine of the islands from next Easter is to define what diagnostic tests could be performed on tourists and what other measures can improve entry control at airports and ports.
Start of the tourist season at Easter
This has been decided in the meeting held by the president of the Government, Francina Armengol, with the hoteliers. In addition, they have opted for the tourist season to start in March, specifically at Easter. "March has to be the month we open," Negueruela has declared.
For her part, the president of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM), Maria Frontera, assured that "the control of ports and airports is essential." At this point, she insisted that beyond the commercial strategies that can be established from the business sphere, the health situation in the Balearic Islands and in the main markets for tourism to the islands, Germany and the United Kingdom will be the determining "variable". .
Frontera has stated that in addition, businessmen need "many more certainties" in the face of the 2021 tourist campaign, for which it has demanded guarantees of the continuity of employment regulation files (ERTE) of force majeure due to the pandemic beyond January 31, the deadline set today.
Negueruela has also trusted that the central government and social agents agree to an extension of the ERTE that should be extended until the reactivation of tourism. "It would not make sense for the billions invested not to be maintained (...), they would be useless if companies fail," she said.
The minister has indicated that it is also necessary to maintain the special benefits for discontinuous fixed lines until the next season starts. “We want to be in 2021,” María Frontera declared, “to continue maintaining employment (...). We are presented with a very difficult 2021 season, more than half companies have not been able to open and we do not know they will be able to open. The reserves are stopped, there is no demand ».
Negueruela has emphasized that, to overcome these harsh prospects, the hotel sector and the regional administration have to coordinate to offer security guarantees to visitors and live with the pandemic by recovering as much activity as possible.
Thu Nov 05, 2020 2:47 pm
Every country should be testing both on and off planes.
This is a good idea by Spain but it shouldn't just be when arriving it should be when leaving aswell. The UK need to be testing everyone before they leave and everyone should be tested before boarding a flight back to the UK.
In fact to get rid of virus holidays should be cancelled until probably May to make sure us and Spain are clear. The big problem last time was opening up Holidays and travel too early and it has put us and every other European country in the position they are now in my opinion. Essential travel is fine but holidays too early are just asking for trouble at the end of next year.
Thu Nov 05, 2020 3:05 pm
thomasblue wrote:Every country should be testing both on and off planes.
This is a good idea by Spain but it shouldn't just be when arriving it should be when leaving aswell. The UK need to be testing everyone before they leave and everyone should be tested before boarding a flight back to the UK.
In fact to get rid of virus holidays should be cancelled until probably May to make sure us and Spain are clear. The big problem last time was opening up Holidays and travel too early and it has put us and every other European country in the position they are now in my opinion. Essential travel is fine but holidays too early are just asking for trouble at the end of next year.
Actually Thomas, this is nothing to do with Spain, this is the Balearic Island Govt doing it and yes it will be both ways

When I land in Bristol, nothing, when I leave Bristol to come over here, I go through machines, then on arrival that again happens to me twice in Palma airport. I have been back 3 times in last two months, but nothing coming in to UK ???
Thu Nov 05, 2020 6:58 pm
Forever Blue wrote:thomasblue wrote:Every country should be testing both on and off planes.
This is a good idea by Spain but it shouldn't just be when arriving it should be when leaving aswell. The UK need to be testing everyone before they leave and everyone should be tested before boarding a flight back to the UK.
In fact to get rid of virus holidays should be cancelled until probably May to make sure us and Spain are clear. The big problem last time was opening up Holidays and travel too early and it has put us and every other European country in the position they are now in my opinion. Essential travel is fine but holidays too early are just asking for trouble at the end of next year.
Actually Thomas, this is nothing to do with Spain, this is the Balearic Island Govt doing it and yes it will be both ways

When I land in Bristol, nothing, when I leave Bristol to come over here, I go through machines, then on arrival that again happens to me twice in Palma airport. I have been back 3 times in last two months, but nothing coming in to UK ???
I think its the right idea but in reality it probably needs to be a Europe / worldwide agreement for a few months that tests are done on all flights both at arrival and takeoff.
If you go to Spain or Greece or Turkey wherever you holiday next summer and you test positive on the way back, you should have to stay in that country . If you test positive on your way to the holiday then you don't leave the UK and you have to isolate. If you are found not isolating then at 10k fine should be issued . Simple as that.
All countries need to be tough together this winter so this doesn't carry on into next Christmas
Thu Nov 05, 2020 7:05 pm
thomasblue wrote:Forever Blue wrote:thomasblue wrote:Every country should be testing both on and off planes.
This is a good idea by Spain but it shouldn't just be when arriving it should be when leaving aswell. The UK need to be testing everyone before they leave and everyone should be tested before boarding a flight back to the UK.
In fact to get rid of virus holidays should be cancelled until probably May to make sure us and Spain are clear. The big problem last time was opening up Holidays and travel too early and it has put us and every other European country in the position they are now in my opinion. Essential travel is fine but holidays too early are just asking for trouble at the end of next year.
Actually Thomas, this is nothing to do with Spain, this is the Balearic Island Govt doing it and yes it will be both ways

When I land in Bristol, nothing, when I leave Bristol to come over here, I go through machines, then on arrival that again happens to me twice in Palma airport. I have been back 3 times in last two months, but nothing coming in to UK ???
I think its the right idea but in reality it probably needs to be a Europe / worldwide agreement for a few months that tests are done on all flights both at arrival and takeoff.
If you go to Spain or Greece or Turkey wherever you holiday next summer and you test positive on the way back, you should have to stay in that country . If you test positive on your way to the holiday then you don't leave the UK and you have to isolate. If you are found not isolating then at 10k fine should be issued . Simple as that.
All countries need to be tough together this winter so this doesn't carry on into next Christmas
Agreed regarding if you test positive.
Mallorca had 10 hotels on stand bye all Paid for this summer if it had happened.
And will be doing it again.
But you will never get all countries to agree on things that’s the truth.
Our islands of 1.4mill are run well and very strict anyway as you all know, I go on and on about it enough